Warrant issued against Uddhav Thackeray

Mumbai: A magistrate court in Yavatmal’s Pusad has issued a bailable warrant against Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and others in connection with a defamation case filed against them for allegedly making fun of a protest march carried by the Maratha community.

According to the complainant, the newspaper published a caricature in the mouthpiece of their political party Saamana showing a man kissing a girl to depict the ‘muk morcha’ (silent rally) as a ‘muka morcha’ (kissing rally). The warrant has been issued as Mr Thackeray and others failed to appear before the court despite the issuance of summons.

On Monday, judicial magistrate first class Anant Himmatrao Bajad issued bailable warrant of '15,000 each against Mr Thackeray and others observing that despite issuing of summons neither the accused nor anybody on their behalf appeared before the court and their presence was required for the trial.

Advocate Datta Suryawanshi who belongs to Maratha community and is a follower of ‘Shiv Dharma’ has filed the defamation case.

According to him he and his family members had participated in the silent rally held in Yavatmal on September 25, 2016. The rally was organised for various demands of the Maratha community and also to protest the incident of Kopardi (gruesome rape and murder of a minor Maratha girl).

The same day a cartoon was published in Saamna. According to Mr Suryawanshi different types of protesters, including a man kissing a woman, were displayed in the caricature. It is alleged that the newspaper played with the words ‘muk morcha’ (silent rally) as ‘muka morcha’ (kissing rally).

Annoyed at this Mr Suryawanshi filed a defamation suit before the magistrate court seeking action against Uddhav, as he is the editor in chief of the newspaper. The suit also named executive editor, printer, publisher as well as the cartoonist of Saamana.

While hearing this suit, judicial magistrate first class, Anant Himmatrao Bajad, on November 18, 2017 had issued summons against all the four asking them to remain present before the court. The magistrate had observed, “Considering the contents of the complaint, verification/examination of the complainant, evidence and arguments advanced by the complainant, I am of the view that prima facie there is sufficient ground for proceeding against accused persons for offences punishable under section 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and section 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

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