A Mumbai sessions court on Thursday stayed the extension of the gag order imposed on the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray by the city police on account of his anti-north Indian campaign, which led to violence here and other parts of the state.

The original order expired on Monday but the police extended the order till March 3, after another court had upheld its validity under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Raj is prohibited from addressing media or holding rallies under the order.

Additional sessions judge S N Sardesai, who stayed its extension, gave time till 5 pm on Friday to the police to approach the Bombay High Court to appeal the ruling, which has been kept in abeyance for a day.

The ruling was given on a revision application filed by Raj, challenging the extension of the police order of February 11 prohibiting him from holding rallies, public meetings and addressing the media.

While Raj is fighting his legal battle in the courtroom, he also dashed off a strongly-worded letter to Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who is incharge of the Home Department.

“The police order is a violation of my fundamental right....political challenges must be faced politically, not by suppressing voice and mass movements,” he told Patil, warning him of dire consequences in the form of public outburst if the gag order was not lifted.

Death threats

Raj has also alleged death threats from anti-social elements in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the two states from where a large number of migrants are coming to Mumbai in past few years.