Maharashtra court issues non-bailable warrant against Raj Thackeray in 14-year-old case

A court in western Maharashtra's Sangli district has issued a non-bailable warrant against MNS chief Raj Thackeray in connection with a 14-year-old case.

In 2008, Thackeray was booked under sections 109 and 117 (abetment of offense) of IPC for allegedly making inflammatory speeches.

While issuing the non-bailable warrant on April 6, Judicial Magistrate, First Class at Shirala in Sangli district asked the Mumbai police commission to arrest the MNS chief and present him before the court.

The judge issued the warrant against Thackeray and another MNS leader Shirish Parkar through the Mumbai police commissioner and Kherwadi police station respectively as they failed to produce themselves before the court during the case proceeding, said assistant public prosecutor, Jyoti Patil.

She said the court has asked police to implement the warrant before June 8 and produce both the leaders before the court.

In 2008, MNS workers staged a protest in Shirala against the arrest of Thackeray in an agitation seeking priority for local youth in jobs.

A local MNS functionary claimed there was a government rule which states that political cases prior to 2012 should be withdrawn. However, this case is being raked up as Thackeray raised the issue of loudspeakers atop mosques, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)