Prime suspect in Star News office attack case arrested

Mumbai, June 6 (UNI) City police has arrested a prime suspect in Star News office attack case from Kolhapur district yesterday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Lohiya told reporters here today that Dhananjay Jayram Desai was arrested by the N M Joshi Marg police from Kolhapur.

Desai, a resident of Vile-Parle in Mumbai, had been absconding since the attack on Star News office on April 16 this year.

He had floated the organisation, ''Hindu Rashtra Sena'', and had allegedly instigated youth into attacking the Star News office after the channel telecasted the news of an intercaste marriage between a Surat-based couple. The couple had fled to Mumbai, fearing reprisal in Surat.

A group of around 50 youth had attacked the office of Star News and damaged office furniture and computers. Police had arrested 41 persons earlier but Desai had been absconding. Those arrested had later secured bail.

Mr Lohiya said Desai was a habitual offender and had several cases of chain snatching, robbery, and rioting registered against him in Mumbai, Thane and Pune.

Following his arrest yesterday, Desai was produced before a local court today which remanded him in police custody till June 12.

UNI