Mumbai news highlights: Bombay HC directs BMC to accept Rutuja Latke’s resignation by Friday; everything needs to be taken to court, says Uddhav

Mumbai news Updates: Bombay HC has asked the Mumbai civic body to accept the resignation of Rutuja Latke, proposed candidate of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction for Andheri East Assembly bypoll. The Bench directed the BMC to give a letter of acceptance of resignation to Latke by 11 am on Friday. Uddhav Thackeray welcomed the ruling, but lamented that “everything has to be taken to court in today’s time”.

Criminal cases have been registered against seven leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray camp of the Shiv Sena for allegedly making ‘offensive statements’ against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a rally. The cases were registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Vinayak Raut, Bhaskar Jadhav and Sushma Andhare among others, news agency PTI reported. The statements were allegedly made at Mahaprabhodan Yatra launched by ‘Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray’ at Thane on Sunday.

In other news, the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) decision to allot two swords and shield symbol to the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has been touted by the party as a “repeat of historical events”, when the Sena used the symbol to contest the Thane Municipal Corporation polls and emerged as the winning party with the largest number of seats.