Hanuman Chalisa row: Mumbai Police move Sessions Court seeking cancellation of bail of Navneet Rana, Ravi Rana for violating bail condition

The Mumbai Police has approached the Mumbai Sessions Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to Member of Parliament (MP) Navneet Rana and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ravi Rana in a sedition case registered against them..Special judge RN Rokade for MPs and MLAs cases issued notice on the application today and directed the couple to remain present in Court on May 18, 2022. .The couple was arrested by the Mumbai Police on April 23 after they 'threatened' to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray's private residence.They were then arrested and charged for sedition under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A Special Metropolitan Magistrate for MPs and MLAs at Sewree, Mumbai then remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days. The Special Judge granted bail to the couple on May 4 noting that even if comments made were objectionable, they would not amount to sedition.While granting bail, the judge had imposed the following condition:“The applicants shall not address the press, print or visual media on any of the subjects which relate to this case "However, after bail was granted and the couple released, they allegedly gave interviews to the press. “If reading of "Hanuman chalisa" is an offence I am ready to remain behind the bars for 14 years. …The Ram Bhaktas and Hanuman Bhaktas all over India will teach you a lesson for putting me behind the bars. You have committed atrocity on me in the name of Ram and Hanuman. the people will show you as to what happens to the persons who oppose Ram and Hanuman,” the couple allegedly told the media as per the Mumbai Police’s application.The application stated that by talking to media, the two accused committed a breach of the conditions imposed upon them.In light of this, the “order granting bail to the accused would stand automatically cancelled on breach of condition imposed,” it was contended. The police accordingly prayed for issuance of non-bailable warrants of arrest against the couple. .Special Police Prosecutor Pradip Gharat contended that the application was not for cancellation of bail but for issuance of non-bailable warrant as the bail order stipulated that violation of condition would entail cancellation of bail forthwith.“She (Navneet) has given open challenge after coming out and this is a challenge to the order of the court. It is like them saying you do whatever you want,” Gharat said..After hearing the SPP for a while, the Special Judge issued notice to the independent legislators for their response.