New Delhi: The Mumbai police arrested MP Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana on Saturday evening from their residence in Khar, hours after the couple cancelled the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’, news agency PTI reported.
A police official at the Khar police station said that the sections under which the couple has been arrested include IPC section 153 (A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police).
The arrest came amid high voltage drama after the couple earlier said that they would recite Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’ and later cancelled it saying that it was because PM Modi is visiting Mumbai tomorrow and they did not want to create any law and order situation.
However, the situation had escalated already as Shiv Sena workers laid siege to the couple’s house and demanded an apology from them.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis tried to corner Shiv Sena on the incident saying that the state government tries to hide their failure by terming it as BJP-sponsored.
“If allowed, the Rana couple would have gone there (Matoshree), recited Hanuman Chalisa, and returned without creating any news. I don't understand why so many people had gathered at several places as if they (the Rana couple) were planning some attack. What kind of politics is this?” Faadnavis was quoted as saying by PTI.
While the couple initially showed resistance to the police, later they agreed to go to the police station. Later Ravi Rana said that if a case is being registered against them, a case should be registered against Shiv Sena leaders Anil Parab and Sanjay Raut too for making threatening statements. Both Navneet and Ravi Rana are independent legislators.