Azad Maidan police registered a case against six, including Bala Nandgaonkar, vice-president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, who organized a ‘Satyacha Morcha’ (march for truth) on Saturday in south Mumbai.
They were booked on charges of holding an illegal assembly and defying prohibition orders.
According to police, more than 10,000 people gathered at Mahabalika Marg, and the protest was led by prominent leaders, including Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar along with several Congress leaders, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
The case has been registered under relevant sections of 223 of the BNS along with Sections 37(3) and 135 of the BT Act relating to unlawful assembly and disobedience of government orders.
The protest at Mahabalika Marg was organized by the Maha Vikas Aghadi Alliance (MVA) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Apart from Nandgaonkar, the police also detained Baban Mahadik, head of Shivsena’s Colaba Division (UBT); Jaywant Nike; Baban Jarat of Shivsina (UBT); And Arvind Javade and Baban Mahadik of MNS.
According to the police, the organizers did not obtain permission to hold the protest. A senior police officer at Azad Maidan police station said that the political party members were informed that the protest and marches were not allowed under the prohibitory order in south Mumbai, and despite this, they organized the protest.
The Satyacha Morcha was organized to protest against alleged irregularities in the voter list, misuse of voter data and the reckless approach of the Election Commission.
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Meanwhile, as supporters of the ruling BJP staged another protest in Girgaon district, DP Marg police detained more than 100 unidentified people for allegedly holding an illegal gathering.
(Tags for translation)Bala Nandgaonkar
