Case against MNS chief for instigating toll violence

The state rural police on Tuesday registered a case against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for instigating and abetting rioters, who have been vandalising toll collection booths in the hinterlands for the past two days.

The latest bout of defacing was reported from the Bandra-Worli Sea-link toll booth on Tuesday; acting swiftly, police rounded 25 MNS workers, who attempted to flee after vandalising the sea-link.

While top police officials were not available for comment, local media from rural Pune has reported that a case was registered against MNS leader Raj Thackeray under Section 109 of the IPC, which deals with instigation and abetment in an act which has harmful affects.

The case has been registered in two hamlets – Loni Kalbhor and Rajgad (both in Pune rural district).

In Loni Kalbhor, Thackeray's name has been mentioned along with 17 others, while 24 others have been named along with the MNS chief in Rajgad police outpost; in both places, he has been charged with offences mentioned under IPC Section 109.

Vandalism was sparked off following a speech by MNS leader Raj Thackeray on Sunday in Navi Mumbai, when he urged people to abstain from and told them to oppose check post officials and “not to bother if the refusal leads to traffic jams.”

Taking cue from the speech, MNS party workers with television news cameras in tow, went on a rampage and attacked toll posts in different parts of the state on Monday.

Soon after the news of cases being registered trickled out, MNS vice-president Vageesh Saraswat said that the party was not against toll but the non-transparent and unscientific manner of collection.

Saraswat added that the violent protests were being carried out by people who “are angry” and had said the party has moved the Bombay High Court with regard to the tangle.