No one should be victimised: Raj Thackeray

Mumbai, Jan 10 (UNI) Stoutly defending some of the accused in the Juhu molestation case, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray is believed to have told Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil not to give in to media pressure and victimise the ''innocent youths''.

Mr Thackeray conveyed these feelings during his half-hour meeting with Mr Patil at his residence. He was accompanied by the 12 persons, accused of molesting two NRI women at Juhu on New Year's night, and their family members.

''Making it clear that he was not against the culprits being punished, Rajsaheb told the Home Minister that simply being in the crowd does not make a person guilty, and that just for the sake of arrest, the innocent youths should not be framed for the sake of making a case,'' an aide close to MNS President said.

Mr Thackeray, during his meeting, is also believed to have raised the issue of the accused being held by the police for four days even when they had secured bail from the Metropolitan court.

Earlier in the day, 12 of the 14 accused, along with their family members, called on the MNS chief at his home and sought his intervention in the issue.

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