By IANS
Ranchi : The Jharkhand High Court Friday asked the police not to take any coercive step against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray till July 17 in connection with his alleged offensive remarks against Biharis residing in Maharashtra.
Hearing a writ petition filed by Thackeray, Justice D.G.R Patnaik said, "no coercive step should be taken against Thackeray till July 17".
The court asked Sudhir Kumar, a Jamshedpur lawyer, to file counter affidavit in the case. It also wanted to know whether the lawyer had sought permission from the state government to lodge a complaint against Thackeray.
Thackeray filed the petition in the high court after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his petition two weeks ago.
The apex court had directed him to approach the high court against the Jamshedpur court order. Thackeray wanted transfer of the case from Jamshedpur to Mumbai.
On May 23, a Jamshedpur court issued arrest warrant against Thackeray in a case filed by a local lawyer for his provocative speech against the outsiders, particularly the Biharis.
On March 9, Thackeray in a public speech in Mumbai had spoken against Biharis who came to Maharashtra for jobs.