MUMBAI: Refusing to quash the second FIR lodged by Mumbai cops against Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana for obstructing a public servant on duty, the Bombay high court on Monday said “the petitioners who claimed to be active in their political and public life are expected to act more responsibly”.
The Ranas, who were arrested on Saturday after they said they’d recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside CM Uddhav Thackeray’s residence, had challenged the second FIR as being “malicious” and “legally untenable”, and also said the first FIR was “extremely unusual” as it was “based on an apprehension without any actual offence taking place”.
An HC bench of Justices P B Varale and S M Modak said, “As it is said, great power comes with great responsibilities. Responsible conduct from those persons active in public life cannot be an extra expectation, but it would be a minimum basic expectation.”
The HC said the state was justified in apprehending that their act of seeking to recite a religious verse outside the CM’s residence would result in disturbance to law and order.
Accepting the submission of special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, the HC said the second FIR, registered at 2.06 am on April 24, is for a “different set of events”.
The HC, granting limited relief, directed police to issue a 72-hour notice in case of any coercive action and also directed that the Ranas’ bail plea in the first FIR pending before lower court be decided on merits. That application is likely to come up before a sessions court for hearing on Tuesday.