Cops book BJP MLA and 27 party workers for rioting

Mumbai: Five days after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers created a ruckus outside journalist Vasant Mane’s house in Bhayander following publication of a picture in his daily e-paper showing chief minister Devendra Fadnavis draped in a saree, the police on Monday registered a first information report (FIR) against BJP MLA Narendra Mehta and 27 party workers on charges related to rioting. Mr Mane is the complainant in the case.

A police inspector investigating the case said that the police was yet to make any arrest but was gathering evidence against the accused. The police was yet to question Mr Mehta.

Sources attached to Bhayander police station said that Mr Mane lodged a FIR against Mr Mehta and his party workers for unlawful rioting and causing commotion outside his building, Sai Vilas, in Bhayander. In his FIR, Mr Mane alleged that Mr Mehta came with a crowd of men and women to riot against him following his publication of a picture showing the chief minister in a saree.

Mr Mane told The Asian Age, “The people who were rioting broke the building’s property and inconvenienced other members of the society. Mr Mehta did not follow protocol and tried to take the law into his own hands. Since he staged a riot against me, I registered a FIR against him for the same. Had he tried to settle this in a subtle way, none of this would have happened.”

When this newspaper contacted police inspector Rajendra Kamble, he said, “We have received a FIR against Mr Mehta and 27 party workers. We are yet to question anyone in the case as we are gathering strong evidence, after which we will take appropriate action.”

Despite several attempts to reach Mr Mehta, he remained unavailable for comment.