Raj Thackeray challenges gag order in court

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday moved a court afresh seeking quashing of the extension of the police order prohibiting him from holding rallies, public meetings and addressing the media.

Police had passed such an order for the first time on February 11 in the wake of his provocative statements against north Indians and resultant violence by his party activists in Maharashtra.

Thackeray challenged it, but the court upheld the order. After the duration of the order lapsed on February 25, police extended it on the same day till March 3.

In a fresh application, Thackeray contended he was not given a show-cause notice and there was no emergency-like situation, which necessitated police to pass order without hearing him.

Additional Sessions Judge S N Sardesai will hear the application on Thursday.

Earlier, Judge Sardesai had held that the magistrate could implement such an order, but not for an indefinite period and that the state was at liberty to extend it by following the procedure in the CrPC.

Thackeray was arrested on February 13 on charges of making inflammatory statements and inciting violence, but released on bail the same day.