The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, dismissing allegations of mischief, unlawful assembly, and damage to public property in Parli, Beed district, Maharashtra.
The controversy originated from an incident on October 22, 2008, when a State Transport bus traveling from Parali to Gangakhed was attacked near Dharmapuri. Assailants reportedly chanted slogans in support of Thackeray while pelting stones at the bus, causing damage to its front glass.
The court found that the chargesheet lacked evidence of Thackeray’s direct involvement in the incident. The bench remarked, “Actual mischief or damage to public property cannot be based on abetment, as there was no specific directive from Thackeray for party workers to harm property. The charges do not indicate any statement by Thackeray, making it an abuse of legal process to subject him to trial.”
The prosecution had argued that Thackeray’s inflammatory speech incited the actions of his followers. However, the court emphasized that Thackeray was not present during the incident and that those involved were members of his political party.
Initially accused by the police, Thackeray’s situation evolved, with the prosecution narrowing its focus to Section 109 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with abetment.
This case followed a series of controversial speeches by Thackeray in 2008 that allegedly incited violence against migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, leading to his arrest by state authorities, which in turn sparked widespread protests across Maharashtra.
