Independent MP from Amravati, Navneet Rana, and her husband, Ravi Rana, an MLA from Badnera constituency, have been arrested by the Khar police in Mumbai on sedition charges.
The couple was arrested after they announced they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays residence, which led to protests in the city.
The police booked them under section 124A (sedition) 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police).
The Ranas had earlier moved the Sessions Court seeking bail in the sedition FIR registered by Mumbai Police against them.
The Bombay High Court later dismissed a petition filed by them and refused to quash the FIR registered for allegedly resisting arrest in connection with the incident outside involving the CM’s private residence in Mumbai.
‘With great power comes great responsibility’ the Bombay HC observed while rejecting the plea.
A fresh bail application has been filed by the Ranas and the matter is likely to be taken up tomorrow.