State to take Thackeray case to HC

NCP ministers Ajit Pawar and Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil also joined issue with the agriculture minister.

The Opposition had attacked the government saying that the CM and his deputy Chhagan Bhujbal did not follow advice of Law and Judiciary Department that the case against Thackeray did not have legal sanctity. Opposition Leader Narayan Rane had showed a copy of the opinion of the Law and Judiciary secretary and Bhujbal8217;s remarks, in the Assembly a couple of days ago. Since opinion of the department was supposed to be kept secret, its leakage embarassed the government on the eve of the Sena chief8217;s arrest.

Responsibility of Thackeray case has now been entrusted to Finance Minister Jayant Patil, who held parelys with city police commissioner M N Singh late in the evening.

The cabinet members also vehemently demanded that the government must appeal in the High Court against the Lower Court8217;s verdict.

Earlier, in a meeting of the NCP Legislature Party, party MLAs strongly opposed Bhujbal8217;s move to tender his resignation. As soon as he began to speak about the responsibility on him and the demand for his resignation, the MLAs objected and said he need not step down. They also stressed the need for persuading the Thackeray case further, the sources said.