Mumbai Police Book Aaditya and Amit Thackeray Over Protest
Mumbai Police file FIR against Aaditya Thackeray, Amit Thackeray and 23 others following a protest at Shivaji Park over election irregularities.
In a major political development, the Mumbai Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 individuals, including prominent leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Amit Thackeray, following a massive demonstration held at Shivaji Park.
The legal action follows a protest on Sunday, October 11, where demonstrators demanded the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, citing concerns over alleged electoral irregularities. The case was officially lodged at the Shivaji Park Police Station on Monday.
Key Leaders Named in the FIR
The list of accused includes high-profile figures from both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Among those named in the FIR are:
- Aaditya Thackeray: Leader of Shiv Sena (UBT)
- Amit Thackeray: Leader of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
- Sandeep Deshpande: MNS leader
- Varun Sardesai: Shiv Sena leader
- Mahesh Sawant: Shiv Sena leader
The police have invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), specifically Section 189(2) for unlawful assembly, along with Sections 37(1), 37(3), and 135 regarding the disobedience of orders issued by a public servant.
Chaos at Shivaji Park and Allegations of Police High-Handedness
The protest, held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party, saw significant friction between demonstrators and law enforcement. Approximately 300 individuals were detained during the agitation, including well-known activist Anjali Damania, though they were eventually released.
Eyewitness accounts and statements from the leaders describe a tense atmosphere. Aaditya Thackeray was seen climbing onto a police vehicle to demand the release of detained protesters. He leveled serious allegations against the authorities, claiming that Shiv Sainiks, including women, were manhandled by police officers near Sena Bhavan.
"The BJP government is behind this police action," Thackeray remarked, issuing a stern warning that a 'Maharashtra bandh' could be called if party members continue to be targeted by the administration.
MNS Vows to Continue Agitation
Amit Thackeray also voiced strong opposition to the police detentions. While questioning the legality of the arrests, he confirmed that the MNS remains committed to their cause and intends to persist with their agitation against the current electoral processes.
This incident is not the first legal hurdle for these groups this month. It follows a previous FIR filed on October 4 involving a march that was conducted without obtaining the mandatory police clearance.