Rana couple arrested after they drop plan to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Maha CM Thackeray's residence

The development came hours after the couple cancelled their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra CM's private residence

After a high-voltage drama, the Rana couple - who had threatened to recite Hanuman-Chalisa outside Matoshree, the private residence of Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray - were arrested by Mumbai Police on Saturday evening.

The Khar police station would produce Amravati MP, Navneet Kaur Rana and her husband and Badnera MLA, Ravi Rana in a holiday court on Sunday.

The Mumbai police added the charge of "use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty" in the FIR registered against independent MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana, an official said Sunday. The city police have also registered an FIR against several Shiv Sena workers for protesting outside the residence of Ranas in Mumbai on Saturday, he said.

The police on Saturday evening arrested the Ranas for allegedly "creating enmity between different groups" after the couple cancelled their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence `Matoshree'.

According to an official from Khar police station, the couple was shifted to Santacruz police lock-up in the night.

Also read: In view of PM visit, Rana couple drops agitation plan at CM's home

Earlier, the Ranas were booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police). The police later also added IPC section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) in the FIR registered against Ranas, the official said.

Meanwhile, based on a written application submitted by Ranas, the Khar police also registered an FIR against Shiv Sena workers, under relevant Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections including rioting and unlawful assembly, for protesting outside the couple's residence here, the official said.

Navneet Rana, who is MP from Amravati in Maharashtra, and Ravi Rana, MLA from Badnera in Amravati district, had submitted a complaint at the Khar police station against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, and Sena leader and state Transport Minister Anil Parab, accusing them of instigating people to 'kill' the couple.

Also Read — The Rana couple of Maharashtra politics

Earlier this month, Ravi Rana had demanded that Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, recite the Hanuman Chalisa at his residence on Hanuman Jayanti, and announced that if the CM did not do so, he would go to 'Matoshree' and recite it. On Friday, Ravi Rana had said he would visit Matoshree on Saturday.

But, as his announcement drew a strong reaction from Shiv Sena cadres, on Saturday morning, he announced that he and his wife were cancelling their plan so as not to create any law and order situation ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday.

But, despite their backtracking, Sena cadres on Saturday laid a siege to the building in suburban Khar where the couple was staying, and said the Ranas would not be allowed to leave until they apologised for insulting Matoshree, their "temple". The Sena workers had also tried to break through barricades and enter the building, but were stopped by police.

BJP condemns arrest

Maharashtra’s leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP has condemned the arrest of the Rana couple. “The pol-khol rally of BJP was targeted - no arrests, Mohit Kamboj attacked - no arrests, the threatening language of burying a lady people’s representative 20 feet below the ground - no arrests….those who came to recite Hanuman-Chalisa, they are arrested,” said Fadnavis, a former two-time chief minister.

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