Amit Thackeray accepts police notice in Nerul amid strong MNS mobilisation

He had told officers that he would appear at the station himself. On Sunday, he travelled to Navi Mumbai around noon, accompanied by senior MNS leaders Bala Nandgaonkar, Nitin Sardesai, Sandeep Deshpande and Yashwant Killedar.

A large number of workers gathered at the Vashi toll plaza to welcome him. Police estimated that nearly 300 MNS supporters had joined the convoy as it moved towards Nerul. Before reaching the police station, Thackeray stopped at the memorial to pay his respects.

According to officers at the Nerul police station, Thackeray has been issued a notice under CrPC Section 41(A), directing him to cooperate with the investigation.

“He came to the station and accepted the notice. We informed him of the case details and the next steps,” a senior officer said. Extra police personnel were deployed to manage the crowd, though the visit remained peaceful.

The case pertains to an incident that took place on November 16, when Thackeray was in Navi Mumbai for a party programme.

During the visit, he learnt that the Shivaji memorial at Nerul had remained covered for several months. Objecting to the delay, he unveiled the statue himself. The move resulted in arguments between MNS workers and police personnel. A case was later filed against him for allegedly violating civic and police norms.

Officials from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) said the memorial’s inauguration was pending due to “administrative clearances” and that no individual had been granted permission to unveil the statue.

In a social media post shared by the MNS, Amit Thackeray said, “If my first political case is for fighting for Shiv Chhatrapati, then I will be happy about it. Those who chant the name of Maharaj during elections, those who receive applause in speeches in the name of Shivaji… don’t have time to inaugurate the statue? This is happening in Maharashtra, and this itself is shameful.”

The police said that they will now record Amit Thackeray’s detailed statement in the coming days and may call him again if required. No arrests have been made so far.