Raj Thackeray detained, released, to meet CM tomorrow

MNS chief Raj Thackeray was detained before being released during his party's uncharacteristically peaceful 'Rasta Roko' agitation against toll collection across Maharashtra after receiving an invitation for talks with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

Known for his strong-arm tactics, the MNS boss was detained at Chembur with his supporters when he was proceeding to the Vashi toll plaza in Navi Mumbai to enforce the road blockade agitation, which had sparked fears of violence. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

However, in complete departure from its earlier strategy, which saw scores of toll plazas being vandalised and burnt down across the state over the last fortnight, MNS workers took to streets but largely shunned violence. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

Raj, who has been demanding transparency in collection of toll, left his Dadar home with some MLAs and supporters for Vashi but his vehicle was stopped on Eastern Express Highway at Sion, where he was made to sit in a police vehicle which brought him to RCF police station in Chembur. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

He was under detention at RCF police station for a couple of hours before being let off. Police had earlier said he was arrested for violation of section 149 of CrPC under which a notice was issued to him yesterday warning against participating in the agitation. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

Section 149 CrPC empowers a police officer to take action to prevent occurrence of a cognizable offence. "Raj Thackeray was detained for nearly two hours before being let off," Additional Police Commissioner Pravin Salunkhe said. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

Before walking out of the police station, Thackeray asked his party workers to maintain calm and abjure violence. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

"Our intention is not to cause trouble to people but to ensure that the government takes note of our demand. When I was inside (the police station), the Chief Minister called me and asked me to meet him tomorrow at 9 AM at Sahyadri guest house. I will meet the CM and put forward our demands," he said. (IE Photo: Prasant Nadkar)

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray was released after being detained for a few hours during his party's uncharacteristically peaceful 'Rasta Roko' agitation against toll collection across Maharashtra after receiving an invitation for talks with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Known for his strong-arm tactics, the MNS boss was detained at Chembur with his supporters when he was proceeding to the Vashi toll plaza in Navi Mumbai to enforce the road blockade agitation, which had sparked fears of violence. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

Undeterred by the notice, Raj Thackeray, whose supporters vandalised scores of toll plazas across the state over the last fortnight, said traffic on the state highways was stopped from 9 AM. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

In Dahisar, a suburb of Mumbai, a group of hundred people led by MNS MLA Pravin Darekar began protesting near Dahisar toll plaza. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

But nobody was detained from the spot, police said. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

In Pune, about 25 MNS activists were rounded up by police when they tried to disrupt traffic at Chandani chowk along Pune-Mumbai highway in response to the 'rasta-roko'. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

Tyres of some heavy vehicles were deflated by the party workers, led by former MNS corporator Rajabhau Gorde, in the demonstration at Chandani chowk. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

A similar protest near 'Amritanjan' bridge along the highway disrupted vehicular traffic temporarily, police said, adding that a heavy bandobast has been put at various points in the city leading to highways where the toll collection booths are set up. (IE Photo: Pradeep Kocharekar)

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray was detained on Wednesday (February 12) at Sion bridge for staging a 'rasta roko' to protest against toll collection in the state. He was arrested for participating in the 'rasta roko' despite a notice served by the Mumbai police on Tuesday asking him to refrain from participating.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray had on Tuesday said his party would go ahead with the state-wide street blockade. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

Undeterred by the notice, Thackeray, whose supporters have vandalised scores of toll plazas across the state over the last fortnight, said traffic on the highways would be stopped from 9 am as police braced to prevent any law and order problem due to the stir. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

However, in some relief for commuters, Thackeray, said life in cities would not be affected. "The rasta roko will be from 9 am tomorrow at all toll highways in the state. We have decided to exclude schools and colleges from the stir in view of exams. The cities won't be affected by the stir," he told reporters. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

"A person from the state government was in touch with me on phone requesting me to call off the stir," the MNS leader said, adding a morcha would be taken out from Girgaum to Mantralaya on February 21. "If the government does not budge by democratic means, then we have our way and you all will see it," he added. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

Meanwhile, Maharashtra police have decided to press into service contingents of Rapid Action Force and State Reserve Police besides over 1.8 lakh personnel of the state police to prevent protests, IG (Law and Order) Deven Bharti said. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

"Adequate security arrangements have been made and all district police chiefs have been instructed to initiate strict action against demonstrators," he said. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

"A notice under section 149 of the CrPC has been served to Raj Thackeray this morning, asking him to respect the law of the land and refrain from taking up any activity that would cause a law and order problem," a senior police officer said. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)

Raj, who is facing multiple cases for instigating his party cadres to vandalise toll booths, had said on Sunday at a rally in Pune that he was determined to go ahead with the stir until the government has made collection of road tax "transparent" and even dared the police to arrest him. (IE Photo: Prashant Nadkar)