Non-bailable offences of promoting enmity between two communities and inciting violence have been registered against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, whose tirade against North Indians triggered violence against migrants in the metropolis last week.

Mumbai police have lodged an FIR against Raj under section 153 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which is a cognisable and non-bailable offense mandating arrest of the offender. Only the court has power to grant bail in such cases. If proved guilty, Raj will get a maximum of three years in jail. The FIR was filed at Vikhroli police station, where Raj had delivered one of the vitriolic speeches, berating North Indians from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for showing their strength under the garb of organising Chhath puja, and celebrating Uttar Pradesh Day in Mumbai.

On the very next day of Raj’s speech, violence broke out in Dadar area of Central Mumbai against taxi drivers and vendors, who are mostly from North India. An unrepentant Raj has described the attacks as “spontaneous outburst” of his followers and “Marathi manoos” who are allegedly feeling marginalised in their own city.