Post Against Sharad Pawar: Maharashtra Police Tells Bombay High Court It Won't Arrest Ketaki Chitale In Remaining FIRs

In a relief for Marathi actress Ketaki Chitale, the Maharashtra Police informed the Bombay High Court that it will not be arresting her in 21 pending FIRs for sharing an advocate's derogatory post aimed against NCP Chief Sharad Pawar.A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and NR Borkar accepted the statement and posted her quashing petition for further hearing on July 12, 2022.The actor was recently released on bail following an order by the Thane Sessions court 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 submitted that the police will not arrest Chitale till further orders. Advocate Hare Krishna Mishra appeared for the actor.Subsequently the court accepted the statement by which Chitale is protected against coercive action. Last month a local Magistrate, while rejecting her bail application had observed that if she was released on bail she will have no fear of law; there were chances of her committing a similar type of offence again; and a wrong message will spread amongst the public.Judge HM Patwardhan of the Thane Sessions Court, however, granted bail to Chitale last week, after the police did not object to her release in their additional reply.This was after the court pulled up the Mumbai police for flagrantly violating guidelines prescribed by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar's case, based on the arguments made by Chitale's lawyer that she was served with a copy of the 41A notice under the CrPC only moments before her arrest. The judge had taken strong exception to this.

Post Against Sharad Pawar: Maharashtra Police Tells Bombay High Court It Won't Arrest Ketaki Chitale In Remaining FIRs

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