Maharasthra govt lets off Thackerays, Rane in political vandalism case

The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court there was no evidence against Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Maharasthra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray and Congress leader Narayan Rane in a case relating to four separate incidents of political vandalism in 2009.

Political workers of Sena, MNS and Congress had allegedly indulged in violence and damaged public and private property in all these incidents. On the last occasion, the high court had asked if any action had been taken against top leaders of political parties.

In an affidavit filed on Thursday, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chandra Iyengar has said that "during the investigation of these four cases, it was not revealed that top leaders of the parties instigated their followers or aided and abetted...since no involvement of top leaders or conspiracy was revealed, no action of arrest or prosecution could be taken."

Former IPS officer Julio Rebeiro had written a letter to the high court, mentioning these four incidents, and demanding that compensation be recovered from those guilty.The letter was treated as a PIL.

The first incident took place January 2009 where Shiv Sena workers, led by member of Parliament, Sanjay Raut, attacked hotel Inter Continental near Mumbai airport over a labour dispute. In the same month, supporters of Narayan Rane allegedly ransacked the office of daily Nava Kal, angered by an editorial critical of him.