Loudspeaker Row: Case Registered Against Raj Thackeray In Aurangabad Over 'Inflammatory Speech'

In the Aurangabad rally, Raj Thackeray had asked people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques from May 4 if loudspeakers there were not removed.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray at a rally in Aurangabad on Sunday

Source : PTI

New Delhi: A case was registered against MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches at a rally in Aurangabad on May 1, PTI reported. The organisers of Thackeray's rally were also booked.

The case has been registered against Thackeray under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 116 (abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment-if offence be not committed) and 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than 10 persons) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, PTI reported.

The development comes after Maharashtra Director General of Police Rajnish Seth said Aurangabad police commissioner would take appropriate legal action against Thackeray over his speech against loudspeakers on mosques.

In the Aurangabad rally on May 1, Thackeray had asked people to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques from May 4 if loudspeakers there were not removed.

The MNS chief had said during his speech that the the Muslim community would see the "power of Maharashtra" if they did not understand the request on loudspeakers "nicely".

"I won't be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques," Thackeray had said.

However, on Monday, Thackeray appealed to his party workers to not perform the announced 'Maha Aarti' on the occasion of 'Akshay Tritiya' on May 3 as he doesn't want to create any obstacles for Muslims during Eid. He said his campaign against loudspeakers was a social issue.

"Please don't do Maha Arti on the festive occasion of Akshaya Tritiya as decided earlier. We don't have to bring any obstacles to anyone's festivities. The issue of loudspeakers is not a religious matter, but it's a social issue. What we have to do about it will be decided in future," Thackeray had tweeted.

Earlier on Tuesday, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, DGP Seth and senior police officials reviewed the law-and-order situation in the backdrop of the MNS chief's deadline.

The Mumbai Police has issued notices to at least 100 people, including MNS leaders Nitin Sardesai and Bala Nandgaonkar, under Section 149 of the CrPC for preventing cognizable offences, PTI reported.

According to the office of the Maharashtra DGP, preventive action has so far been taken against more than 15,000 people in the state under various sections of the CrPC and the Maharashtra Police Act.

The DGP's office also said that notices under CrPC Section 149 were issued against 13,054 people across the state, including MNS workers.

(With inputs from PTI)