The Bombay high court turned down a request for an urgent hearing on Union minister Narayan Rane‘s anticipatory bail application on Tuesday, as he faced arrest for comments made the day before that he wanted to “give a tight slap” to Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray for allegedly forgetting the year of India’s independence during a speech.
Police Commissioner Deepak Pandey of Nashik claimed he instructed a team for the minister to arrest him and bring him before the tribunal. For the statements, Rane has been charged under the Indian Penal Code sections 500 (defamation), 505(2) (mischief), and 153-B (1)(c) (remarks intended to promote discord, or feelings of hostility, hate, or ill will).
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A Ratnagiri sessions court previously denied Rane’s anticipatory bail application. Aniket Nikam, Rane’s lawyer, was told to follow proper procedure before approaching the high court by justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar. A second plea was also filed to dismiss the three charges against Rane in Nashik, Pune, and Mahad.
After the court’s lunch break ended at 2.30 p.m., Nikam addressed the bench and mentioned the two motions for anticipatory bail and quashing of the charges. In order to get the matter scheduled for hearing, the court ordered that Nikam follow the proper procedure. Nikam also asked for protection from coercion, such as arrest, while the plea is being heard.
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According to Nikam, police must notify anyone arrested for a crime that carries a sentence of less than seven years. He went on to say that because this was not done in Rane’s instance, the arrest warrant was invalid. Nikam stated that they would return to the bench at 4.30 p.m.
