Hanuman Chalisa row: Court re-issues bailable warrants against MP Navneet Rana, her MLA husband
Mumbai, Dec 14: A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday re-issued bailable warrants against Independent Lok Sabha MP from Maharashtra's Amravati Navneet Rana and her husband, MLA Ravi Rana, after they failed to appear before it in connection with a case of resisting arrest and obstructing police personnel from performing their duty linked to a row over reciting the Hanuman Chalisa.
In April this year, the Mumbai police arrested the Ranas for allegedly "creating enmity between different groups" after their call for recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa outside the then-Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence in suburban Bandra triggered angry protests by Shiv Sena workers.
Special Judge R N Rokade had on previous hearing issued bailable warrants against the couple after noting that they had failed to appear before the court under the charge-sheet filed in the case by the police.
They were directed to appear before the court on December 14 and get the warrants cancelled after paying a sum of Rs 5,000 each.
However, they didn't turn up before the court on Wednesday, following which the court re-issued bailable warrants.
The matter was adjourned to January 10.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
NIA court to complete framing of charges against 2010 hand-chopping case accused on May 15
Kochi (PTI): A special court here will complete proceedings for framing charges against the prime accused in the 2010 hand-chopping case involving professor T J Joseph, in which PFI activists were accused of attacking him at Muvattupuzha.
Ernakulam Special Court for NIA cases judge P K Mohandas, on April 30, heard the arguments of counsel for accused Savad and Shafeer C and decided to proceed with framing charges against the duo.
A group chopped off Thodupuzha Newman College professor Joseph's right hand in July 2010, accusing him of religious blasphemy in a question paper he had prepared.
The case, later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), resulted in the conviction of 19 accused.
The first accused, Savad, who allegedly chopped off Joseph’s palm, was arrested in Berram in Mattannur, Kannur, in January 2024, where he had allegedly been hiding under the pseudonym Shajahan.
The NIA also arrested Shafeer, who allegedly arranged shelter and provided logistical support to Savad at Chakkad and Mattannur in Kannur since 2020.
On April 30, the court heard the counsel for the accused and the NIA prosecutor on framing charges against the duo.
"On going through the documents and evidence in the case and on hearing the counsel for the accused and the prosecutor, I am of the opinion that there are grounds for presuming that the first accused has committed offences punishable under provisions of the IPC, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and that the second accused has committed offences punishable under the IPC and the UAPA, and there are materials for framing charges under these provisions against the accused," the court said.
The court directed that Savad be produced and Shafeer, who is on bail, appear before it on May 15 for recording their pleas as part of the charge-framing process.
After framing the charges, the court will schedule the trial in the case.
