Mumbai Top News Apr 25: Ranas move sessions court seeking bail in sedition FIR; Maha sees 84 Covid cases

Their counsel Rizwan Merchant said that the couple had decided to withdraw their bail plea pending before the Bandra magistrate court that had remanded them to 14-day judicial custody on Sunday, a day after their arrest.

Mumbai sees 45 Covid cases, no death; active tally now 532

Mumbai on Monday reported 45 Covid cases, taking its tally to 10,59,331, while the death toll remained unchanged at 19,562, a civic official said. The addition to the tally was 28 less than the 73 recorded on Sunday, though the number of coronavirus tests conducted during the day were also less than the previous 24-hour period, he pointed out.

While 10,400 tests were carried out on Sunday, the figure stood at 5,053 in the last 24 hours, which left the overall number of samples examined so far in the metropolis at 1,68,51,037, civic data showed.

Of the 45 new cases, 44 are asymptomatic, while the one person hospitalised did not need oxygen support, he said. Only 19 of the 26,044 hospital beds earmarked for Covid treatment are currently occupied, he added.

Mumbai police acting like ‘servants’ of MVA govt: Fadnavis tells Centre after Somaiya ‘attack’

Alleging that the Mumbai Police were not taking the “attack” on BJP leader Kirit Somaiya over the weekend allegedly by Shiv Sainiks seriously, Maharashtra opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to the Union Home Secretary claiming the city force was acting like the “servants” of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

In the letter to Union Home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, dated April 24, Fadnavis urged him to take cognisance of “deteriorating law and order” in the state and the “trampling upon” of the basic rights of the opposition leaders, and sought strict action in the matter.

The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said Somaiya had informed the Khar police that he was coming to meet independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana and her husband, MLA Ravi Rana, on Saturday night, who were arrested after they insisted on reciting the Hanuman Chalisa outside ‘Matoshree’, the private residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in suburban Bandra.

Chhota Rajan acquitted in 2010 double murder case, to stay in jail for J Dey killing

Gangster Chhota Rajan (File)

A special court on Monday acquitted gangster Chhota Rajan in the 2010 Bhendi Bazaar double murder case while sentencing two others to life imprisonment. Besides Rajan, the court acquitted two others persons.

Former Mumbai mayor among 4 held for attack on BJP leader Somaiya’s car

The Mumbai Police on Monday afternoon arrested four Shiv Sena members, including former city Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, for allegedly vandalizing Maharashtra BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s car over the weekend, an official said.

According to the Khar police station official, besides Mahadeshwar those arrested included former Shiv Sena corporator Haji Haleem Khan and party activist Dinesh Kunal. They were charged with rioting as they allegedly hurled stones at Somaiya’s car, he said.

HC rejects plea by Rana couple to quash FIR by Mumbai police

The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed as “devoid of merits” a writ plea by Independent legislator couple Navneet and Ravi Rana arrested in connection with the Hanuman Chalisa controversy. The couple had sought to quash an FIR registered by the Mumbai police for resisting their arrest.

“As second FIR is registered against petitioners in case, if state government is desirous of initiating any action in pursuant to second FIR, the officers of state government shall issue 72 hours notice to petitioners before taking such action,” the High Court said.

The couple had sought setting aside the second FIR registered on April 24 against them under IPC Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty). The petitioners have also requested that they be protected from no coercive action in respect of impuned FIR and stay the investigation in connection with the same.

Advocate Rizwan Merchant, who appeared for the petitioner couple, submitted, “If charge under 124A (sedition) was added on April 24, why the offence under section 353 was not included in same FIR? If the police added s. 124A during the time of remand, it could have added s 353 also. We are not running away and we will co-operate with the probe. You cannot allow this FIR to continue so that while my bail plea in first FIR is going on or decided, they can arrest us in this case. Similar FIRs in Pune and elsewhere. It is exactly happening like Amish Devgan case in which supreme court had pulled up prosecution.”

The HC orally observed, “The span of occurrence as placed on record is showing the two occurences are not in series. These are two independent different offences.”

Merchant argued, ” There are FIRs in Pune, Osmanabad and Amravati. Notice under section 41A of CrPC was not issued to petitioners and therefore the officer was not discharging official duty. They arrested us on the the apprehension that since PM was coming to the city, it will create law and order situation. Let it be one single transaction (FIR) and it cannot be broken into compartments. Let it be considered as part of first FIR. And other FIRs be quashed and instead be treated as statements under section 162 of CrPC as directed by Supreme Court in Amish Devgan case and let only one FIR remain.”

Merchant says petitioners do not want to go through humiliation under second arrest. After her arrest, her health condition was not good.

To which Justice Prasanna B Varale referred to remark made by the bench few days ago in “Narayan Rane slap remark against CM Thackeray case. The judge said, “We expect who are occupying some position, even if they are representatives of people, they have to act responsibly against other representatives also. Even we observed this, it fell on deaf ears. Hope better sense prevails. Probably we learnt a lesson that this court shall not expect something even from persons occupying responsible positions.”

Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat representing Mumbai Police said they are two seperate offences and be treated in two different FIRs. “The petitioners argued with the police and made remarks. At this juncture we have to accept the facts in FIR. The fact of opposing arrest cannot be jointly considered with the offences they’ve committed in first FIR,” Gharat argued.

The bench asks in respect of which acts Police invoked section 124A (sedition). Gharat responded, “They had spoken about brining down the government. They wanted to recite Hanuman chalisa in front of CM’s residence. Initially 124A wasn’t invoked but based on statements recorded, it was revealed that the motive was not purely simple. Hanuman chalisa was used as cover under which they wanted to challenge the state machinery and the CM is head of the machinery.”

Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana approached the Bombay High Court Monday to file a petition against charges levied against them. The court will likely hear the matter at 2:30 pm on Monday. The Mumbai Police on Sunday slapped a sedition charge on Ravi Rana and Navneet Rana, and a  metropolitan magistrate court sent them to 14-day judicial custody. Their call for chanting Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence had triggered protests and chaos.

The duo were arrested for “creating enmity between different groups”. The Mumbai Police also shifted Independent MP Navneet Rana to the Byculla women’s jail in Mumbai, while Ravi Rana was taken to Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai amid tight security, an official said on Monday.

Mumbai ex-mayor Mahadeshwar held over attack on BJP leader Somaiya’s car

Shiv Sena leader and former Mumbai mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, along with seven others, was arrested Monday for allegedly attacking BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s car outside the Khar police station in the Maharashtra capital last week.

Maha sees 84 Covid cases, down from 144 day before; no fatality

Maharashtra on Monday reported 84 Covid  cases, taking the tally to 78,76,925, while the death toll remained unchanged at 1,47,834 with no fresh fatality, a health department official said.

The addition to the day’s tally was far less than the 144 cases logged on Sunday, he said, adding that four of eight circles in the state, namely Akola, Latur, Nashik and Aurangabad did not report a single case.

Of the 84 cases reported during the day, a dominant 56 were from Mumbai metropolitan region (MMR), including 45 from the metropolis, followed by 23 from Pune, four from Nagpur and one from Kolhapur. So far, 77,28,162 people have been discharged post the Covid recovery, including 71 in the last 24 hours, leaving Maharashtra with 929 active cases, the official added.

#Maharashtra #COVID19 Updates

*⃣New Cases- 84
*⃣Recoveries- 71
*⃣Deaths- 0
*⃣Active Cases- 929
*⃣Total Cases till date – 78,76,925
*⃣Total Recoveries till date – 77,28,162
*⃣Total Deaths till date – 1,47,834
*⃣Tests till date – 8,00,59,982

(1/4)🧵

— PIB in Maharashtra 🇮🇳 (@PIBMumbai) April 25, 2022

In another sign of rising tensions between the BJP and Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday stayed away from the first Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar Award in Mumbai where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured. Sources in the Sena said the party is upset with the Mangeshkar family for not putting the CM’s name on the invitation card for the event.

This is not the first time Thackeray has skipped a programme with PM Modi. On March 6, when the prime minister visited Pune to inaugurate the Pune Metro rail project, Thackeray stayed away from the function too.

Some glimpses from today’s programme in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/h083MfvyHt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2022

In other news, a day after Shiv Sena supporters allegedly hurled footwear and water bottles at BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s SUV, his party colleague Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, demanding strict action in connection with the attack.

🔴Take a look at more developments from Maharashtra 

Mumbai Hunar Haat had 20 lakh visitors: Naqvi

An event featuring art, cultural, musical and laser lights show programmes will be organised on Tuesday to mark the closing ceremony of the 40th Hunar Haat, organised by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, here on Tuesday.

Hunar Haat provides market exposure and employment opportunities to artisans, craftsmen and traditional culinary experts.

Ministry employees, including those who worked there earlier, and renowned artists who have played an important role in the successful journey of Hunar Haat will be felicitated during the event, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said Interacting with media at the Hunar Haat venue at MMRDA Ground, Bandra Kurla Complex here, the minister said the 40th Hunar Haat began on April 16 and around 20 lakh people from Mumbai and nearby areas visited it.

Maha: BJP boycotts all-party meeting to discuss use of loudspeakers

The BJP on Monday boycotted the all-party meeting called by the Maharashtra home department to discuss directives on the use of loudspeakers at religious places and sought to know whether state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil has any authority to take a decision on it.

Talking to reporters, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Devendra Fadnavis said his party’s stand is very clear on the issue – that directions given by courts in the matter should be followed strictly.

“Earlier, we would be awake the entire Navratra, play garba, play bhajans. Be it Ganesh Chaturthi, there would be events till mid-night. The moment the Supreme Court barred the use of loudspeakers from 10 pm, we strictly followed it. We only use it on 15 days on which relaxation is allowed,” Fadnavis said.

“The Supreme Court’s order must be followed,” the former state chief minister said.

Hindutva is culture, not chaos, says Shiv Sena; slams BJP over Hanuman Chalisa row

In the wake of a political row in Maharashtra over the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa, the Shiv Sena on Monday hit out at the BJP and said the Hindutva ideology is a culture and not chaos.

An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ claimed the BJP’s “rotten brain” was behind independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana’s earlier call to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’, that resulted in angry protests by Shiv Sainiks outside the couple’s home here on Saturday. The Marathi daily alleged that the Rana couple wanted to vitiate the city’s atmosphere, and said they should conduct this programme in the office lobby of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil (Facebook @Dwalsepatil)Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Sunday said efforts were on by some people to create an atmosphere conducive to the imposition of the President’s Rule in the state.

He also termed as “appropriate” the arrest of the Ranas in connection with their announcement to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside the residence of Chief Minister Thackeray in Mumbai. The plan by Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana had angered Shiv Sena workers, who held strident protests against them on Saturday. The Ranas were later arrested for “creating enmity between different groups”.

Maharashtra people feel President’s Rule should be imposed: Fadnavis

Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis (File)

In view of strident protests by Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai against the Ranas and the “attack” on the SUV of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said that the people of Maharashtra feel President’s Rule should be imposed in the state.

Though Fadnavis made it clear that the BJP will not demand President’s Rule in the state, his party colleague and Union minister Narayan Rane said it should be imposed as the state government has failed to maintain law and order and indulged in the “politics of revenge”.

Somaiya’s driver booked for rash driving as two Shiv Sainiks sustain minor injuries: Police

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. (Express photo)

The Mumbai police have registered an FIR against the driver of senior BJP leader Somaiya for allegedly driving in a rash and negligent manner, due to which a Shiv Sena corporator and a party worker suffered minor injuries, an official said on Sunday.

The FIR was registered late Saturday night after local Shiv Sena functionary Bhai Zhende lodged a complaint and sought action against the driver, the official from Khar police station said.

किरीट सोमैया मारहाण प्रकरणाचा पाठपुरावा करण्यासाठी मुंबई भाजपा चे शिष्टमंडळ दिल्ली साठी मुंबई हून रवाना, आ. मिहिर कोटेचा, आ. अमित साटम, आ. पराग शाह, आ राहुल नार्वेकर, विनोद मिश्रा आणि किरीट सोमैया.

नॉर्थ ब्लॉक दिल्ली येथे केंद्र सरकारचे गृह सचिव यांना भेटणार.@BJP4Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/Y5CkefR6iN

— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) April 25, 2022

The incident took place on Saturday night when Somaiya was returning from the Khar police station after meeting Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana following their arrest.

Will take up issue of attack on Kirit Somaiya with Centre, says Fadnavis

Fadnavis on Sunday said they will complain to the Union home secretary against the Mumbai police’s “failure” to protect Kirit Somaiya, who enjoys ‘Z’ category security. On Saturday night, some Shiv Sena supporters allegedly hurled footwear and water bottles at Somaiya’s SUV when he was leaving the Khar police station in Mumbai.

Some glimpses from today’s programme in Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/h083MfvyHt

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2022

Sanjay Raut on police action against Ranas, attack on Somaiya’s car

Sanjay Raut

A day after the Mumbai police arrested Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana, Shiv Sena’s chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Sunday defended the action, saying there must have been some reason behind the police action. “What business does Somaiya have in an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai police against Ravi Rana and Navneet Rana? If the police have taken some action against them, there must be some reason,” Raut said.

Referring to the attack on Somaiya’s car near the Khar police station on Saturday, Raut told reporters that “some traitors do get pelted with stones”.

INS Vikrant निधीचा अपहार करणारा आरोपी.. बोगस जात प्रमाणपत्र वापरून निवडून आलेल्या दुसऱ्या आरोपीला भेटायला जातो.
लोकांच्या भावना तीव्र होतात. देशाशी बेइमानी करणाऱ्या चोरांवर दोन दगड पडले तर भाजपला इतके तळमळ मळमळ करण्याचे कारण काय? Ins vikrant घोटाळा देशद्रोह आहे!
जय महाराष्ट्र

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) April 24, 2022

I stay away from felicitation events but made an exception: PM Modi on Lata Mangeshkar award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with the Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award on Sunday. (Express Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he generally stays away from felicitation ceremonies but made an exception to receive the first Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar award named after the legendary singer whom he considered his “elder sister”. Modi received the award at Shanmukhanand Hall in Mumbai on Sunday, which marked the 80th death anniversary of  Deenanath Mangeshkar, the singing legend’s father.

“I generally keep myself away from such felicitation ceremonies. I cannot adjust myself (in such programmes). But when an award is named after an elder sister like Lata Mangeshkar, then it becomes an obligation for me to accept it because of the affection and right of the Mangeshkar family over me,” the prime minister said in his award acceptance speech.

Maharashtra breathed ‘satisfactory’ air for most of 2020-21: report

The state breathed ‘satisfactory’ air during most of the days in 2020-21 (52 per cent of the days), according to the annual report from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

Experts believe that the lockdown restrictions played a big role in maintaining ‘good’ and ‘satisfactory’ air quality in the state. Starting March 2020, the entire state was under a strict lockdown and there were restrictions on vehicular movements among others till the end of the year.

Air quality monitoring was carried out across 69 active Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (AAQMS) installed in various regions of the state.

Maharashtra logs 144 Covid-19 cases, two fatalities

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 144 fresh Covid-19 cases and two fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 78,76,841 and the death toll to 1,47,834, a health official said. Both the deaths were reported from Pune city, he said. With 95 patients being discharged after Covid-19 treatment, the overall count of recoveries in Maharashtra rose to 77,28,091 as of Sunday, leaving the state with 916 active cases.

(With inputs from agencies)