Screeengrab from the video shared by Rajshree More on social media of the altercation.
Credit: rajshree_more_official/Instagram
The row over a social media influencer and nail artist from Mumbai who was allegedly abused and threatened by the son of a Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader has aggravated further with the woman further narrating how she had allegedly been threatened for taking a stand for the non-Marathi speaking people in the state.
A video showing a visibly-drunk Rahil Shaikh (26), son of MNS leader Javed Shaikh, sitting in the front seat of his car with his upper body bare, issuing threats and abusing social media influencer Rajshree More after she confronted him over his car ramming into hers, has gone viral.
"I am receiving threats... I am being told 'laaton ke bhoot, baaton se nahi maante'. I am being warned to keep my mouth shut. I am not afraid at all. I wasn't afraid that night too when I went to the police station alone and filed FIR. I was being convinced that please don't file FIR against our son, we beg you. However, I didn't listen to them."
The incident reportedly took place late on Sunday night on Veera Desai Road in Andheri West, a police official said, adding the video was shot and shared on social media by More.
More has alleged she was targeted for speaking up for non-Maharashtrians despite she being a Marathi-speaking person. She also alleged that her vehicle was hit more than once by Shaikh.
"When my vehicle was hit once, he could have left. Why was it hit twice? My vehicle is very famous. People know me and my vehicle. So, why was just my vehicle targeted, and why was it an MNS person inside the vehicle," Hindustan Times quoted her as saying.
More further said that MNS members threatened to break her studio if she didn't apologise for her statements.
Rahil Shaikh was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for outraging the modesty of a woman and other offences as well as drunken driving and other violations under Motor Vehicles Act. He was allowed to go after being served a notice, while his car has been seized, an official said. Further probe into the case is underway.
The Marathi vs Hindi debate continued in Maharashtra's political circles days after the Fadnavis led-government withdrew two orders introducing Hindi as the third language in primary education across Marathi and English medium State Board schools.