MUMBAI: The Mumbai police has invoked sedition charges against Amaravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana, accusing them of creating “hateful sentiments towards the government” and told a court on Sunday that they needed to interrogate the couple to ascertain who else was part of their plan
The judge wasn’t convinced and declined the request to remand the Ranas, arrested on Saturday, in police custody for seven days. The court instead sent the two to judicial custody for 14 days.
The Khar police, which arrested the couple on Saturday evening, told the court that the police issued notice to the couple not to disturb the law and order situation but they still went ahead to announce their protest plan at Matoshree, the family residence of chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Police also cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Mumbai on Sunday. “The couple also knew about PM Modi’s visit to Mumbai on Sunday evening and still went ahead with the announcement which could have ignited tensions,” the police said in its request to the court to seek the couple’s custody for 7 days.
A police officer said they may approach the court for a production warrant to arrest the two lawmakers in another first information report (FIR) registered against them for allegedly obstructing policemen from performing their duty and resisting arrest at their residence in Khar, a western suburb of Mumbai, not far from Matoshree.
