Raj served notice to observe restraint in speeches

Mumbai, Sep 4 (UNI) The City police today served a notice to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, asking him to observe restraint and not to commit any cognizable offence through his speeches and writings, which can create law and order problems.

Mr Thackeray, however, refused to accept the notice, forcing the police team to paste it outside his Shivaji Park residence here.

According to the notice, a certain section of the society feels insecure in wake of the recent events, which can create a law and order situation, a senior police officer, who pasted the notice on Raj's residence late this evening, said.

''The notice says that in his political activities, he must not commit any cognisable crime. This is basically a preventive notice,'' the officer said.

The notice has been served under the provisions of Section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code and can be used against Raj in a court, if he commits a cognisable crime, the officer added.

The police, who had served a similar notice to Raj before his rally on May 3, are contemplating action against him for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups of people during his 70-minute speech, in which he attacked North Indians.

Raj, who allegedly led a violent anti-North Indian campaign in February, was arrested on February 13 before being immediately released on bail.

UNI ST/GS SR ATI RAI2027