MNS chief Raj Thackeray arrested

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was arrested at Ratnagiri early Tuesday morning for Sunday's brutal attack on north Indian railway exam candidates by MNS workers.


A case was registered in this connection against Raj Thackeray and his supporters at a North-West suburban police station of Kharwadi, after MNS workers attacked 13 railway examination centres in suburban Mumbai to protest against "inadequate representation" to locals.

The arrest of the MNS chief comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure on the Maharashtra government to rein in Thackeray and his activists.

Earlier, a combative Raj had justified Sunday's attack on north Indians and warned the state that it will have to "regret" the consequences in the event of his arrest.

"Arrest me and be ready to bear the consequences.... you will have to regret," Thackeray, who was attending a ceremony at Bahadursheikh Naka in Chiplun in the state, said.

"If Raj is arrested, entire Maharashtra will be set on fire," he threatened.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence were reported across Mumbai allegedly by the MNS activists.

Taxies parked at Tardeo in South Mumbai were damaged by some unknown miscreants who fled on motorcycles, police said.

Two separate incidents were reported in the North-West suburban of Borivali where miscreants attempted to burn trucks, they added.

Miscreants attacked a toll booth located in the North-West suburban of Mulund and set one of the counters on fire, police said.

There were also reports of some unidentified men throwing stones at the suburban resident of Congress spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam.

On Monday, Mumbai police also received arrest warrant issued by a Jharkhand court on September 30 in a case filed by advocate Amit Kumar against Thackeray for hurting religious sentiments of north Indians by making derogatory remarks about Chhath festival. The petition, filed on February 2, 2008, quoted Thackeray as describing Chhath as "a drama".

MNS chief Raj Thackeray has moved Jharkhand High Court seeking a stay on a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by a court in Jamshedpur. The High Court in Ranchi has posted the matter for hearing on October 25, his lawyer Akhilesh Choubey said.