In a setback to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, a Mumbai sessions court on Monday upheld a gag order imposed by the Mumbai police, prohibiting him to speak to media or address rallies, although it said the order could not be for an indefinite period.

The prohibitory order was issued by DCP Vijay Jadhav on February 14 under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the backdrop of the anti-north Indian campaign launched by the MNS and subsequent violence in the metropolis and other parts of the state, which claimed two lives.

The order was to expire on Monday. Raj had challenged the order in the sessions court on the ground that it was an infringement on his fundamental rights.

The sessions court said the state government was at liberty to extend the order, but it struck down the part, which said it was to remain in force “till such time as such activities are stopped or got under control”.

Meanwhile, the Bihar governor and veteran Dalit leader R S Gavai has criticised the MNS for using his name to demand expulsion of 25 lakh Biharis from Mumbai as well as crying hoarse over alleged insult to Dalit sentiments.

In an interview to a Marathi newspaper, Gavai said no one should try to capitalise on a trivial incident that happened in the Bihar Assembly two days back for political purpose. He added that the incident had deepy embarrassed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Gavai added that  MNS was hurting the image of Maharashtra and Marathi-speaking people by its campaign and described himself as Bihari first rather than a Maharashtrian.