Mumbai: MP Navneet Rana and MLA husband sent to 14-day custody over Hanuman Chalisa row

Mumbai, 24th April 2022: Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana have been sent to judicial custody for 14 days in the Hanuman Chalisa controversy. The holiday court of the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate gave this order today.

Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said that MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana have been given judicial custody for 14 days, they will remain in judicial custody till May 6. The bail hearing will be held on April 29.

On the other hand, Rizwan Merchant, counsel for the Rana couple, said that the public prosecutor could not produce even a single evidence to prove that the Rana couple had made a statement against the Maharashtra state government. These people wanted to recite Hanuman Chalisa and praying is not a crime. Lord Rama is praised in Hanuman Chalisa. If reciting Hanuman Chalisa has become a crime in the country, then all temples should be locked.

Rana couple accused of spreading hatred between different groups

Mumbai Police has added a section relating to use of criminal force to deter a government official from discharge of duty in the FIR registered against the Rana couple. The police had arrested both of them on Saturday evening for spreading hatred between different groups. Khar police station officials said the couple was sent to the Santacruz police lock-up at night.

Earlier, the Rana couple was booked under Section 153A (causing enmity between different communities in the name of religion, language etc.) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 135 (violating prohibitory orders enforced by the police) of the Mumbai Police Act. Later, in the FIR registered against the Rana couple, section 353 (criminal force or assault to prevent public servant from discharging duty) was added, the official said.

Earlier this month, Ravi Rana had demanded Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to recite Hanuman Chalisa at his residence. Also, if the Chief Minister did not do so, it was announced that he would recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of Matoshree (residence of Uddhav Thackeray) on Saturday. The Rana couple had said on Friday that they would recite Hanuman Chalisa at 9 am on Saturday outside Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree‘ in suburban Bandra.

Shiv Sena workers reacted sharply to Rana’s announcement. Following this, on Saturday, Ravi Rana announced that he and his wife were canceling their plans so that no law and order problems arise ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai on April 24.