Mumbai: A special court on Wednesday granted bail to the Independent legislator couple, MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana, who were arrested 11 days ago for threatening to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s personal residence, Matoshree.
Among the conditions imposed on them by the court were that they should not address the media, either print or electronic, on any subject connected with the case. Special Judge R N Rokade, designated to conduct criminal matters of MPs and MLAs, also directed that they must not try to influence any prosecution witnesses or interfere with the probe in any manner. Another condition imposed by the court on the duo was that they must make themselves available for interrogation by the investigating officer as and when called, till the probe is completed. Police are supposed to give them a 24-hour intimation for interrogation. The court also prohibited them from committing a similar offence while on bail. Breach of any of these conditions could entail an immediate cancellation of bail, the court clarified in its summary order. It has ordered their release on furnishing a cash bond of Rs 50,000 each. A detailed order is yet to be made available.
The legislator couple had been arrested on April 23 and produced before a Bandra magistrate court that had remanded them in judicial custody. Police had invoked the charge of sedition against them as well as the IPC provision for promoting enmity between different communities.
Seeking bail, the Ranas had stated in their common bail application that their arrests were made under pressure and out of political vendetta. Police had opposed their release on bail and said that the couple had used the Hanuman Chalisa as a weapon and had the intention of disturbing the law-and-order situation.
