Raj Thackeray Arrested, Released on Bail
Mumbai/Patna: February 12, 2008
 With growing pressure from all political quarters, Maharashtra police on Wednesday, after dilly-dallying for days, arrested the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi in Mumbai on charges of promoting regional hatred and inciting riots against people from North Indian communities.
Both were, however, granted bails within hours of their arrests though not soon before sparking a state-wide violence including in Mumbai, Nasik, and Pune where Thackeray's minions clashed with North Indians and destroyed properties owned by non-Maharashtrians.
At least one person was killed in the riot in Nasik though the Sena workers deny the report.
 Thackeray was arrested from his central Mumbai residence and was taken to Vikhroli court where he posted a bail of Rs. 15,000 and secured his release.
He, however, has been slapped with a gag order instructing him not to talk to the media or walk in a group of more than five persons.
Azmi was also picked up from his residence and taken to the Shivaji Park police station where he posted his own bail.
Both Thackeray and Azmi were booked under sections 153 (intentionally causing riot), 153 a (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence, etc) and 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration).
Meanwhile in Patna, the news of Thackeray's arrest sent a wave of jubilation among students and others and they celebrated the news by distributing sweets and applying 'gulal' on each other.
"We will not tolerate insults of Biharis in Mumbai. Raj Thackeray is a criminal and must be treated as one," said a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist at Income Tax roundabout.
"While we are delighted by the action taken by the Maharashtra government, it is not enough. They not only delayed his arrest for obvious political reasons, they allowed him to walk free despite pending charges of anti-national activities against him, said a Janata Dal – U leader.
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