Thackeray gets court reprieval for his alleged comment on Biharis

Ranchi, Jun 15 (UNI) The Jharkhand High Court today directed the state government not to take any coercive step, including arrest warrant against former Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray till further order in connection with his derogatory remarks against Biharis residing in Maharastra.

Justice DGR Patnaik passed the order while hearing a criminal miscellaneous petition filed by Swaraj Thackeray alias Raj Thackeray for quashing the complaint petition filed by Mr Sudhir Kumar Pappu, an advocate at Jamshedpur.

The court directed the complainant to file counter affidavit by July 17, 2007 regarding taking sanction from the state government.

Rajesh Kumar appearing on behalf of the petitioner, informed the court that Mr Thackeray abused Biharis in his public speech delivered on March 9, 2006 adding Biharis were not safe in Maharashtra.

Two FIRs were lodged in Mumbai by former MP Sanjay Nirupam.

The other complaint case was filed with the judicial Magistrate of Jamshedpur on March 13, 2007 by Sudhir Kumar pappu and Rajesh Kumar.

The court after taking cognizance issued summon against Mr Thackeray on April 19, 2007 and thereafter issued warrant of arrest on May 23, 2007.

Mr Thackeray had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to transfer the case to Mumbai but the Apex court rejected the plea and directed him to appeal in the Jharkhand High Court.

As Mr Thackeray was left with no option, he filed a petition before the Jharkhand High Court.

Mr Y V Giri, Mr M S Mittal and Mr Nitin Pasari appearing on behalf of the former Sena leader pleaded before the court to know whether the petitioner had taken sanction from the Jharkhand government adding special permission was required from the state government, when the matter was related to public sentiments at large.

UNI