MLA Ravi Rana And Wife Navneet Rana Arrested By Khar Police: Report

Navneet Rana, an Amravati MP, and her husband, MLA Ravi Rana, were reportedly arrested by Mumbai police from their home in suburban Khar on Saturday evening, hours after the couple had cancelled their plan to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence, 'Matoshree.'

The Rana couple were allegedly also charged under IPC section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between various groups on the basis of religion, etc.) by the police.

Devendra Fadnavis claimed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government's handling of the situation was "very childish." According to the former chief minister, the state administration seeks to disguise its failings by labelling situations it can't handle as BJP-sponsored.

He went on to say, "The Rana couple would have gone there (Matoshree), chanted Hanuman Chalisa, and returned without making any news if they had been allowed. I don't understand why so many people had collected in various locations as though they (the Rana couple) were organising an attack. What kind of politics is that? "

 Ravi Rana And Wife Navneet Rana Arrested By Khar Police

The pair stated they decided to cancel their plans because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Mumbai tomorrow and they didn't want any law and order issues to occur. Workers from the Shiv Sena distributed sweets outside their homes to commemorate the occasion.

After the Rana couple declared their decision to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside 'Matoshree,' Sena workers gathered in huge numbers outside their flat in Mumbai this morning, shouting slogans. The Shiv Sena workers burst through the barriers and attempted to enter the legislator couple's home in Suburban Khar, but the situation was quickly brought under control by the police, who prevented the Shiv Sena workers from going any further.

Suggested Reading: Who Is Navneet Rana? MP Decides To Chant Hanuman Chalisa Outside Matoshree

To minimise congestion outside 'Matoshree,' police have strengthened security and installed barricades on the road leading to the Thackeray mansion. Police were also stationed outside the couple's apartment after Shiv Sena activists staged rallies and dared the pair to leave their home.

The pair received a notice from Mumbai police on Friday, telling them not to disrupt the city's law and order situation. In addition to 'Matoshree,' the police have beefed up security at 'Varsha,' Uddhav Thackeray's official mansion in south Mumbai.

Feature Image Credit: Hindustan Times