Hanuman chalisa row: Maharashtra CM orders arrest of MP Navneet Rana, MLA husband

The political drama surrounding MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana’s plan to recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s house in Mumbai on Saturday (April 23) took a twist as the Sena-led government arrested the couple from their house in Khar (Mumbai) on Saturday evening.

Earlier, following protest by Sena leaders outside their house throughout the day, Navneet Rana and her husband cancelled their plan to recite the verses, saying “their purpose has been served”. The Rana couple, both independent elected representatives, said they dropped their plan because PM Modi is visiting Mumbai on April 24 and they don’t want law and order problem. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena workers celebrated their ‘victory’ by distributing sweets, which former chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said was a “childish act”. “With permission, the Rana couple would have gone to Matoshree, recited Hanuman Chalisa and returned without a buzz. I don’t understand why so many people had gathered at several places as if they (Rana couple) were planning some attack?” he said.

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The Ranas were booked under IPC section 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), and section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police), the police said.

Navneet Rana is an MP while Ravi Rana is an MLA, both representing Amravati district in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

Also read: Hanuman Chalisa row: Ranas call off protest citing PM Modi’s visit

‘Matoshree’, the personal residence of the Thackerays, is under heavy police bandobast. Besides, the police have also increased security at ‘Varsha’, the official residence of CM Uddhav Thackeray.

Earlier, Navneet Rana accused the Chief Minister of telling Shiv Sena workers to heckle them. Ravi Rana said Uddhav Thackeray has deviated from Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s ideology. “This is not the same Shiv Sena that Balasaheb Thackeray formed. That Shiv Sena would have allowed us to chant Hanuman Chalisa,” he said.