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This is an archive article published on April 23, 2022

Newsmakers | Blessed by Ramdev, friends to many, the celeb ‘Independent’ couple in Mumbai Hanuman Chalisa row

This past week, the couple find themselves at the centre of calls, which first rose from the MNS camp, to recite Hanuman Chalisa in public if mosques continued to use loudspeakers for azaan and other announcements.

Hanuman Chalisa row, Navneet Rana, Ravi Rana, Mumbai news, Rana moves Bombay HC, Mumbai police, Indian expressMLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana (Express photo)

From sharing the silver screen with southern heroes like Captain Vijayakanth and Mammootty to Baba Ramdev playing Cupid and asking them to tie the knot at a mass wedding ceremony, the husband and wife duo of MLA Ravi Rana and MP Navneet Rana are never far from the limelight – their Independent status a blessing in disguise.

This past week, they also find themselves at the heart of the Hanuman Chalisa row, starting with Raj Thackeray’s demand to recite the same in public if mosques continued to use loudspeakers for azaan and other announcements.

On Saturday evening, the Mumbai Police arrested Ravi and Navneet Rana on the charge of “creating enmity between different groups”, after escorting them out of their house in suburban Khar amid high drama.

Hailing from Amravati district, the dominant political brain between the couple is seen to be Ravi Rana, 43, a three-time Independent MLA, who represents Badnera seat.

Ravi Rana’s mercurial rise began with this seat, which he wrested in 2009 while contesting as an Independent against the Nationalist Congress Party candidate. Rana’s substantial following among the youth is believed to have helped, with his rivals’ dismissive references to him as “Flex Kumar” — for his penchant for putting up flex posters with his picture across town – cutting little ice. As his political graph rose in the region, so did his land holdings, allege rivals.

Shiv Sena members protest outside MLA Ravi Rana and Navneet Kaur’s residence, at Khar, Mumbai, on Saturday. (Express Photo)

His wife Navneet Rana, 36, was born in a Punjabi family and raised in Mumbai. In 2004, she entered the tinsel world with a Kannada film. In a conversation earlier with The Indian Express, she had said: “I have worked with well-known film stars Vijayakanth, Junior NTR, Mammootty. I am proficient in seven languages.”

A chance meeting with Baba Ramdev changed the script of her story. Ravi Rana was already in Ramdev’s good books after organising one of his numerous ‘Yog Shivirs’ in Amravati. The two of them are said to have met at one such Yog Shivir, and got the final nudge to tie the knot by Ramdev himself. The two finally married in 2011 at a mass wedding ceremony organised by the Yoga guru alongside over 3,000 couples.

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For many in Amravati, what makes the Ranas stand apart from other politicians is their political fluidity – unrestricted by any bounds of party discipline by virtue of their ‘Independent’ status. This has allowed them to overcome political divides with great felicity, particularly leaning towards the ruling side in Maharashtra.

For example, despite Ravi Rana spearheading various agitations in Maharashtra planned by Ramdev against the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre before 2014, wife Navneet Rana had managed to get a ticket from UPA constituent NCP, to take on sitting Shiv Sena MP Anandrao Adsul from Amravati, in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

On Saturday evening, the Mumbai Police arrested Ravi and Navneet Rana on the charge of “creating enmity between different groups”. (Express photo)

This ticket didn’t prevent the Ranas from also simultaneously supporting the BJP-Sena government in Maharashtra.

The Amravati Lok Sabha fight was the first time the Ranas found themselves in personal conflict with the Shiv Sena, with Navneet complaining of harassment by Adsul, and breaking down on live TV while narrating the same. The episode did not help her though, and she lost the election.

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In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the duo placed their bets on the Congress-NCP. Navneet Rana fought the Amravati Lok Sabha seat again, as an Independent candidate with the NCPs support, this time emerging victorious against Adsul.

After the close 2019 Legislative Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Ranas flipped again. Ravi Rana sided with the BJP, offering to elicit support for the party from other Independent MLAs as well. Once the NCP, Sena and Congress pipped the BJP to power, the Ranas went back to being “neutral”.

The current row, where the couple have threatened to recite the Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers outside Matoshree, indicates a return once more to the BJP.

Sources said the latest U-turn was the result of Adsul accusing Navneet Rana of fudging her caste to contest from the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Castes. In March 2021, Navneet complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant had threatened her.

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In June 2021, the Bombay High Court cancelled Navneet’s caste certificate. Her appeal against the order is pending in the Supreme Court.

In January this year, the ties between the Ranas and the Shiv Sena saw another dip when Ravi Rana was booked for attempt to murder over an assault on the Amravati Municipal Commissioner. Rana claims he was not present at the spot at the time of the incident. Investigations are on.

Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

 

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