Union Minister Narayan Rane, on Saturday, was discharged by the Alibag court in a case pertaining to his controversial remarks against the former Maharashtra chief minister Udhav Thackeray. The court also cancelled his bail bonds filed in this case.
Rane was discharged from the case by Chief Judicial Magistrate (Raigad-Alibaug) S W Ugale, news agency PTI reported.
In 2021, Rane accused Uddhav Thackeray of being ignorant about the year of India’s independence, he further went on to say that he would have given a “tight slap” to Thackeray. Rane was then arrested from Ratnagri.
An FIR was registered against Rane at Mahad in Raigad district under sections 189 (threat of injury to public servant), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of public peace) and 505 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code in 2021, as per PTI.
"Rane allegedly made a statement on the (then) chief minister's conduct. He didn't make any statement which was promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever," his lawyer Satish Maneshinde had submitted during the hearing of the discharge application.
Furthermore, the alleged statement was not likely to cause any disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, the advocate had argued.
He had said the case was politically motivated and hence, bad in law.
Shiv Sena leaders strongly condemned Rane's remarks. Party leader Vinayak Raut sought his removal from the union cabinet.
Rane faces four FIRs across Maharashtra over his controversial remark, including in Nashik and Pune based on complaints filed by Shiv Sena leaders.
"It is shameful that the chief minister (Uddhav Thackeray) does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap," Rane had said.
He had claimed Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address to the people of the state.
Rane had defended his remarks against Thackeray, saying he hasn't committed any crime by making them.