The arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane was "justified", but it was not necessary "to hand over the accused in police custody", a magistrate's court in Mahad said in its order, while granting bail to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.
"Considering the reason for arrest and other reasons, I found that the arrest is justified... Considering the nature of the offence, I do not find it necessary to hand over the accused in police custody," Magistrate SS Patil was quoted as saying in the order by news agency PTI.
'Accused Shall Not Commit a Similar Offence'
The Union Minister was arrested on Tuesday by the Ratnagiri Police from Sangameshwar in connection with his 'slap' remark against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He was then handed over to the Mahad Police and subsequently produced before a magistrate's court at Mahad, which granted him bail.
"The accused shall not commit a similar type of offence," the court further noted.
The Magistrate Court granted bail to Rane upon the furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 15,000. The court, while granting the bail, imposed certain conditions. The bench stated that his presence will be required at the police station for inquiry in the case on 31 August and 13 September.
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Nashik Police Summons Rane on 2 September
The minister had been arrested for a remark of his about giving a 'tight slap' to CM Thackeray, wherein Rane had claimed that Thackeray was ignorant of the year of India's Independence.
Four FIRs were registered against him – in Mahad, Nashik, Pune and Thane.
The Nashik Police on Wednesday sent a notice to the Union Minister, demanding his presence at the police station at 12 pm on 2 September in connection with the FIR.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister filed a petition in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday for quashing of the FIRs against him over his remarks, news agency ANI reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rane had approached the Bombay High Court, seeking protection from arrest, but was declined an urgent hearing in the matter. According to reports, the Bombay HC had directed Rane’s lawyer, Aniket Nikam, to follow due procedure before approaching the court.
This is reportedly the first time in Maharashtra that a serving Union minister was arrested and comes around 20 years after Union Cabinet ministers, the late Murasoli Maran and TR Baalu, both in the government of the late Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, were arrested by the Chennai Police in June 2001.
What Had Happened?
During his Jan Ashirwad Yatra in adjoining Raigad district, Rane had said, "It is shameful that the chief minister does not know the year of our Independence. He leaned back to enquire about the count of years of Independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given (him) a tight slap,” news agency PTI had reported.
Rane had claimed that Thackeray, after forgetting the year of India's Independence during his 15 August address, had to check the same with his aides in the middle of the speech.
Clash Between Shiv Sena and BJP Workers
Rane's comments drew sharp reactions from the Shiv Sena and its allies, while Sena workers came out on the streets to protest.
Clashes broke out between workers of Shiv Sena and the BJP in Mumbai on Tuesday as the former party's workers marched towards Rane's residence, ANI reported.
Sena workers protested outside Rane's Juhu residence, while some vandalised the BJP office in Nashik. Sena and BJP workers also clashed in Chiplun, where Rane's 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' was scheduled on Tuesday.
‘I Am Not a Common Man’: Narayan Rane
Reacting to the news of the FIRs, Rane was earlier quoted as saying:
“I have no information that an FIR has been registered against me. I am not a common man. I have not committed any crime. Is it not a crime if someone doesn't know about 15th August? I had said that I would have slapped — these were the words and it's not a crime.”
Reacting to the arrest, BJP president JP Nadda tweeted in Hindi, "The arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane ji by the Maharashtra government is a violation of Constitutional values. We will neither be scared nor suppressed by such action. These people are troubled by the immense support the BJP is getting in the 'Jan Aashirvad Yatra'. We will continue to fight democratically, the journey will continue. (sic)"
The BJP said that Rane was eating when he was arrested. The party released a video which shows Rane holding a plate showing his lunch half-eaten, as his supporters tried to prevent the police from arresting him.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut demanded that Rane should "must have some respect for the Constitution" and step down as Union minister after being arrested, PTI reported.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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