No arrest for now: Court relief to Marathi actor for post on Sharad Pawar

Actor Ketaki Chitale was arrested last month for her allegedly derogatory Facebook post against the Nationalist Congress Party chief, Sharad Pawar. 22 cases were filed against her for the post.

Actor Ketki Chitale, who was arrested over her allegedly derogatory posts against Sharad Pawar, has been granted interim relief in 21 pending FIRs against her by the Bombay High Court. The bench of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Borkar ordered the police to not take any coercive actions against the actor.

The actor’s advocates told the court that 22 FIRs were filed across the state over the same post and the actor was arrested in the first FIR, in which she has been granted bail. However, in the remaining 21 cases, which are not maintainable, her arrest needs to be stayed through interim relief, they argued.

The bench, before granting temporary relief to the actor, also asked the Chief Public Prosecutor, Aruna Pai, whether she would make any statement. However, Pai requested to keep back the matter to get instructions from the top cop and, accordingly, the matter was kept back.

Also Read: | Relief for Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale as police decide not to oppose bail

When the matter was called again in the afternoon session, Pai said that Ketaki Chitale would not be arrested in the remaining 21 FIRs and, accordingly, the court passed the order. The matter has been listed in July for further hearing along with a petition by 22-year-old Nashik student Nikhil Bhamare, who had also posted against the Nationalist Congress Party chief.

Both Chitale and Bhamare were arrested last month for their social media posts.