New Delhi: Arrested Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was granted bail in the Kalyan case till October 24. The party workers were accused of attacking non-Maharashtrians appearing for the Railway recruitment examinations, police said.
However, the state government has filed another petition seeking cancellation of bail given to Thackeray in February this year in a different case.
Lawyers said that the police is apparently trying to bind Thackeray in as many legal cases as possible. It is being said that there are 10 cases against the MNS chief.
Meanwhile, indefinite curfew was clamped in most parts of Kalyan where Thackeray was held in a police lock-up after being arrested for inciting violence against north Indians.
The police said Sharmila could meet Thackeray, but she demanded that party office-bearers must also be allowed to meet him. However, the police refused to allow that.
The police lathicharged Thackeray supporters who defied the curfew and came out in large groups on the roads leading to Kalyan court.
The authorities have also deployed Rapid Action Force (RAF) and State Reserve Police (SRP) to help the local administration maintain law and order.
The town in neighbouring Thane district, about 70 km from Mumbai, was rocked by group clashes leading to police lathicharge, widespread arson, damage to private and public property, damage to the railway station and general mayhem as the MNS chief was brought there on Tuesday evening.
Thackeray was taken there to face police charges in a case of attacks on north Indian candidates who had come to Kalyan to appear for Railway recruitment examinations last Sunday.
Since the night magistrate was not available, Raj spent his first night in the fortress-like precincts of Manpada police station in Dombivli, angering his supporters.
Raj has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 423, 427, 535, 107, 106 (II), 506(II), pertaining to rioting, assault, damage to private and public properties, obstructing government servants from doing their duties, and section 153(A), which relates to provoking hatred among communities.
Though, he spent a quiet night in the lock-up, his supporters continued to wreak havoc in the city, forcing authorities to clamp a curfew "for as long as necessary", said an official at the police control room.
Several shopkeepers of Mumbai, large parts of Navi Mumbai, Thane city and district preferred to keep their shutters down for the second consecutive day, apprehending violence.
However, suburban trains and BEST buses were functioning as usual here, though many office-goers decided to take the day off.
(With inputs from IANS)
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