Raj Thackeray's arrest warrant stayed

Justice A B Potdar also passed strictures against the Judicial Magistrate First Class and the police of Badnapur and stayed the arrest for four weeks.

The defence lawyer Sagar Ladda pointed out that the summons issued against Raj was not served properly. It was handed over to MNS chief's personal assistant.

After hearing both the sides, the court stayed the non-bailable arrest warrant for four weeks. The warrant was issued against Raj Thackeray by JMFC Satyan Dhoke on December 5, 2009 after some of his party activists allegedly hurled stones on a Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation bus in Badnapur tehsil of Jalna district.

Police had registered an offence against Raj Thackeray under various Indian Penal Code sections on a complaint filed by a MSRTC bus driver.

Around 10 to 15 unidentified youths shouting party slogans -- 'MNS zindabad' hurled stones at the bus near the Hirvi phata, the complaint said.

Advocate Ladda's plea was that Raj was falsely implicated, as he was not present at the spot (Badnapur). JMFC Doke rejected the plea to stay it. He appealed the court to set aside the decision of releasing the warrant against Raj and quash the proceedings before the JMFC, Badnapur.