Mumbai cops book Raj Thackeray, Abu Azmi

Cases have been registered against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi for allegedly 'promoting' enmity between groups and 'provoking' incidents of violence in the city, a senior police official said on Monday.

A case was registered against Thackeray at the suburban Vikhroli police station in north east Mumbai on Sunday night, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VII) D Karale told PTI.

A case was also registered against Azmi at the Shivaji Park police station, he said.

"The FIR has been filed under sections 153, 153 A and 153 B of the Indian Penal Code against Raj Thackeray and further investigations are on in the matter," Karale said.

Thackeray has been booked under sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence, etc) and 153 B (imputations, assertations prejudicial to national integration). Azmi has also been booked under similar charges.

However, Karale refused to comment on whether Thackeray or Azmi would be arrested in the case.

Thackeray had made remarks against the north Indian community ahead of a rally held by the Samajwadi Party at Shivaji Park on February 3. Azmi had allegedly countered Thackeray by making provocative speeches against him at the rally.

Also, activists from Thackeray's MNS party had targeted members of the north Indian community, including taxi drivers.

Subsequent incidents of violence followed with taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers as well as the Bombay Taximen's Union office being targeted by suspected MNS activists.