A special court on Monday heard arguments in the Khar police’s plea to cancel the bail of independent legislator couple MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana.
The duo was booked for threatening to recite the Hanuman Chalisa in front of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence. The special court, while granting bail to them in May, had stipulated among the bail conditions that they should not address the media - either print or electronic on the subject connected with the case.
After the duo gave media interviews post their release on bail, the police approached the court seeking cancellation of their bail, stating that they had violated this condition.
The legislator duo was present before the court on Monday for the hearing on the matter. Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat argued that they should be taken back into judicial custody as they had breached the bail condition.
“The moment they speak to the media on a subject related to the case, their bail stands cancelled,” he argued, adding that in dishonour and disrespect of orders of the court, the breach is committed. The prosecution submitted transcripts of their TV interviews to various channels.
Special Judge RN Rokade remarked, "if conditions are not followed, what is the use of putting conditions?" Advocate for Ranas, Rizwan Merchant argued that it was not a complete gag order.
He further submitted that the case was regarding reading Hanuman Chalisa before the CM’s residence, but the Ranas have not said in their interviews after getting bail, that they would read it outside the CM’s residence.
He argued that it is their fundamental right to read it wherever they want, as long as it does not disturb the law and order.
“I'm a politician, I have a particular freedom of speech,” he said on behalf of the Ranas, adding that they may be allowed to say things which will promote the cause of their political party.
“Certain things come out of our mouth, not deliberately, but in flow,” he said. The court will hear the matter next month.
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