By IANS
Mumbai : A city court Monday upheld a gag order of the police on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray that prohibited him from addressing rallies. The ruling came on an application Thackeray filed challenging the order imposed on him Feb 11.
But since Mumbai Police did not extend the 14-day prohibitory order, the MNS chief is free to address public rallies from Tuesday midnight.
In his application, Thackeray contended that the order was “vague and general”.
“The gag order imposed complete restrictions on Thackeray and does not bar a particular act, instead prohibits him from resorting to all forms of protest,” Ashok Mundargi, lawyer appearing for Thackeray, told IANS.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Vijaysingh Jadhav had passed the order after Thackeray launched a campaign against north Indians, specifically against the people from Bihar, residing in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra.
Mundargi explained that the gag orders could be extended by two months by a magistrate and for a period of six months by the state government but the police must first issue a notice to Thackeray.