Hanuman Chalisa row Highlights: 14-day judicial custody for Rana couple; 6 Shiv Sena workers arrested

BJP MLA Ravi Rana and his wife MP Navneet Rana were taken to separate jails from Santacruz police station. While Navneet was taken to Byculla jail, Ravi was taken to Taloza jail.

Santacruz PS on Sunday registered a case against an unknown person in connection with the attack on BJP leader Mohit Kamboj. The matter will be transferred to Kherwadi Police for further investigation, Mumbai Police said.

Another case has been registered against Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana at Khar Police Station. FIR registered under Section 353 of IPC.

Ravi Rana and Navneet Rana will undergo an RT-PCR test, will be sent to jail only after receiving the order copy from the Bandra court

The Khar police have arrested six Shiv Sena workers for creating ruckus outside the residence of Ravi and Navneet Rana 

• For the first time, public prosecutor Pradip Gharat, obviously on instructions from the police dept, argued that the case of the accused falls under 124A, which is sedition: Rizwan Merchant, advocate of Navneet & Ravi Rana
• When he was called upon by us to show that particular part of the remand application or those words which were supposed to have been uttered by the accused to show disaffection towards the state govt, he miserably failed: Rizwan Merchant, advocate of Navneet & Ravi Rana
• He (public prosecutor Pradip Gharat) was not able to show even a single word that was uttered allegedly by the Rana couple. The only content of the remand application was that they had prepared to come here for the purpose of chanting Hanuman Chalisa: Rizwan Merchant, advocate
• Hanuman Chalisa is nothing but praise of Lord Ram & Hanuman... the place where Hanuman Chalisa was supposed to be chanted was outside the house of people who claim to love Lord Ram; question of wanting to chant Hanuman Chalisa should not be affecting them at all: Rizwan Merchant
• Therefore, chanting Hanuman Chalisa cannot fall under section 153A... this entire case is bogus. They have a very strong feeling that they are standing on loose ground. They know of the possibility of release on bail & have thus prepared a 2nd FIR: Rizwan Merchant, advocate

After the FIR was registered by Khar PS on the complaint of Navneet & Ravi Rana against the other side, a second FIR appears to be registered by the police against Navneet Kaur Rana & her husband Ravi Rana i.e. charge of 353 IPC: Rizwan Merchant, advocate of Navneet & Ravi Rana

Rana couple's lawyer Rizwan Merchant has filed for their bail application after the court ordered 14-days of judicial custody. 

Hearing on bail application on April 29.

MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana to spend 5 days in jail after Bandra court sends them to judicial custody

MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana are likely to apply for bail today

Hearing has concluded. The Bandra court has sent Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana to 14-day judicial custody

The hearing has begun in Bandra court, Rana couple, their lawyer present inside

Sanjay Raut on Sunday said there there must have been some reason behind the police action. Referring to the attack on former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya's car near Khar police station here on Saturday, Raut told reporters here that "some traitors do get pelted with stones".

"What business does Somaiya have into an ongoing investigation by Mumbai police against Ravi Rana and Navneet Rana? If police have taken some action against them, there must be some reason,” Raut said.

“When central agencies probe or raid our leaders, they (BJP) always say there must be something which why the action is taken. One must trust police...the Mumbai police never register a false report or an FIR,” said the Shiv Sena leader, whose party shares power with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra.

It's true there was stone-pelting. A probe is underway to find who was behind it. Police will take appropriate action against those found guilty. Case registered in the matter: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse on the alleged attack on BJP's Kirit Somaiya by Shiv Sena workers

The Mumbai police on Sunday registered an FIR against an unidentified person for allegedly hurling stones at the car of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya near Khar police station. But, Somaiya refused to take a copy of the FIR as he was not satisfied with the sections under which the police registered the case.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar today addressed a press conference on the alleged attack on Kirit Somaiya

Hearing in Bandra court likely to begin at around 12:30 pm 

Mumbai Police have registered an FIR against several Shiv Sena workers for protesting outside the residence of Ranas in Mumbai on Saturday.

The police had on Saturday evening arrested the Ranas for allegedly "creating enmity between different groups", after the couple cancelled their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence `Matoshree'.

The Mumbai police have added the charge of "use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty" in the FIR registered against independent MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana. 

As the Rana couple were taken inside the Bandra court, the court authorities have barred the entry of media inside the premises 

Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane reaches Kirit Somaiya's residence to meet him 

Navneet Rana, Ravi Rana have reached Bandra court

Kirit Somaiya today claimed the attack on him was "sponsored" by the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra.

“The attack on me was sponsored by the Uddhav Thackeray government. Some 70-80 Shiv Sena workers had gathered at the gate of Khar police station when I visited it. I had personally informed police that I might be attacked by Shiv Sena goons and it later happened,” he said.

Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana are set to be produced before the court shortly. Heavy police personnel have been deployed outside the court. 

Addressing a press conference, Kirit Somaiya today alleged Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey is responsible for attack on him. He further said an FIR was lodged against him under pressure from the commissioner. 

"He threatened me when I refused to sign on the FIR," Kirit Somaiya said. 

Rana couple's lawyer Rizwan Merchant reaches Bandra court

Three hours before his press conference today, Kirit Somaiya had taken to Twitter and said, "Today 10am I will address press conference at my residence Nilam Nagar Mulund on Shivsena's assault to KILL Me."

MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana will be produced before a Magistrate Court on Sunday following their arrest on Saturday from their Khar residence after they cancelled recitation of Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree'.

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president, Chandrakant Patil condemned the attack on BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and warned of retaliation action against the state government on Sunday. He also emphasised that the attack on Somaiya was done inside the police premises and alleged that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was propagating violence.

"The attack on Kirit Somaiya was not an attempt to kill him. It happened in the police station premises. Now MVA govt is propagating violence in front of police. Do you want to create Kerala or Bengal like situation in Maharashtra?" asked Patil.

Following the alleged attack on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said police allowed Shiv Sena goons to carry out the attack under the pressure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"I will speak with the Home Secretary and Home Minister today over the attack on Kirit Somaiya and will also write a letter to take action against the police, who are working as political workers," Fadnavis told mediapersons.

The way our voices are muzzled, it seems that Uddhav Thackeray is hatching plots to do something on the lines of what was done with Mansukh Hiren (Antilia case). The FIR filed against me is a bogus one: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya addressed a press conference today, wherein he said, "I have informed about the attack to Home Secretary at the Centre. He has sought a report on the attack. A representative delegation will go to Delhi and meet the officials there."

Kirit Somaiya is accused in the INS Vikrant case. He misled the country.  If the public has expressed its anger against such people, then, BJP should not be pained. The people of Maharashtra will not forgive such people: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in Mumbai

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya claimed he was injured in alleged stone-pelting by Shiv Sena workers in Mumbai on Saturday. Somaiya further alleged that this was the third time he was attacked.