'Slap CM' Remark: Bombay High Court Grants 2 Weeks Protection To Union Minister Narayan Rane

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted two weeks interim protection to Union Minister Narayan Rane in an FIR at Dhule over his 'slap' remark against Uddhav Thackarey, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.The court granted protection after the Maharashtra government refused to make a statement and undertake no coercive action against the minister. Within these two weeks Rane would be at liberty to either apply for anticipatory bail or seek transfer of the FIR.The division bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak was hearing Rane's quashing petition against the FIR filed on August 24, 2021 at Dhule under sections 153(B)(1)(C), 500 and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code.The FIR was registered following a complaint by a Shiv Sena member regarding Rane's alleged hate speech during his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in Raigad in which he was critical of the Chief Minister.Several FIRs were registered in various parts of the State after the press conference wherein Rane made the 'slap' remark for the Chief Minister. Earlier, in a separate petition the State agreed to make a statement not to arrest Rane in at least one of these FIRs.On Thursday, the bench heard the matter and asked the State if they would make a similar statement in the Dhule FIR as well which was refused.During the hearing on Thursday, the judge narrated the legacy of Maharashtra. He said there was a time when two senior leaders were contesting elections against each other and one of them when to drop their children together."Although this is not an advisory jurisdiction, the petitioner occupies a responsible position. But certainly the words used are not used respectably against another person who is also occupying a respectable position.Why doesn't the petitioner come forward in court and make statement that let bygones be bygones. Let's decide on being respectable towards everyone. Let's not give out a wrong signal to the people," Justice Varale said. He added that while political ideologies may be different, dignity must be maintained."Let us give a good example to our youngsters. It happens in political life, one adopts one ideology and someone else adopts some other ideology, they have their own likes and dis-likes."In his petition Rane said he never had any intention to cause or promote any hatred between communities or against the CM as alleged.Rane's petition filed through advocates Aniket Nikam and Gajanan Shinde contends that the "false'' First Information Report (FIR) is a political vendetta. His petition says that "registering crimes at various police stations against him for same series of transactions is nothing but to intentionally cause harassment to him.''

'Slap CM' Remark: Bombay High Court Grants 2 Weeks Protection To Union Minister Narayan Rane

Sharmeen Hakim

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