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The Bombay High Court on Monday allowed Union Minister Narayan Rane to withdraw his petitions seeking to quash FIRs filed against him in 2021 for his controversial remark that he “would have given a tight slap to Uddhav Thackeray”, then chief minister.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad permitted the withdrawal after Rane’s advocate informed the court that a “C summary” report, indicating the case is closed for lack of evidence or criminal intent, had already been filed in the FIR registered at Mahad in Raigad district.
Additional Public Prosecutor Jayesh Yagnik further told the court that in the Pune case, the Investigating Officer would soon file a C summary report, subject to official approval.
Moreover, Rane has been discharged from the case by the magistrate court in Mahad.
Taking note of these submissions, the bench recorded them in its order and observed: “In view of the matter, the petitioner seeks to withdraw the instant petition. Thus, we allow the request. The petition is disposed of as withdrawn.”
Rane had faced six FIRs over his remark, which was made during a political rally and drew strong reactions. The cases were registered in Mahad, Nashik, Pune, Thane, Jalgaon, and Ahmednagar.
