Post Against Sharad Pawar: Bombay High Court Clubs 22 FIRs Against Actor Ketaki Chitale, 6 Against Student Nikhil Bhamre

The Bombay High Court on Monday clubbed all 22 FIRs against Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale and the six FIRs against student Nikhil Bhamre imprisoned by the Maharashtra Police for sharing posts aimed against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

The FIRs against Chitale and Bhamre have been transferred to Kalwa and Navpada respectively. All additional FIRs barring the first will be treated as statements recorded under section 164 of the CrPC in view of the judgement in Amish Devgan's case.

A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and Justice NR Borkar passed the order in their respective petitions seeking quashing of FIR.

The bench adjourned the matter to September 7, after some of the complainants sought time to respond to the quashing petitions and Bhamre's counsel sought to amend his plea to seek prosecution of concerned officers.

"Submit and circulate the draft amendment," Justice Jamdar said noting that the petitioners have also sought compensation for arrest.

Earlier the court had directed Bhamre's release on bail and granted him pre-arrest bail in the FIRs he was yet to be arrested. Chitale was also released on bail in June after over 40 days of imprisonment.

Chitale was arrested on May 14, after she shared the post allegedly written by one advocate Nitin Bhave that refers to an "80-year-old man Pawar" and calls him a "mosquito" who "hates Brahmins." arrested on the basis of an FIR filed by Swapnil Netke, a local NCP functionary, in Thane district's Kalwa police station.

Allegations in the FIR are about a deliberate attempt to defame Pawar, intentionally indulging in an act of creating hate between two groups and hurting the sentiments of NCP workers. A total of over 22 FIRs have been lodged against her at different places making similar allegations – mostly by local NCP members.

On Monday, Chief PP Aruna Pai for the State police said she did not have any objection if the FIRs were clubbed. Earlier she had also made a statement not to arrest Chitale in the remaining FIRs after she was released on bail.