02 June,2023 03:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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A court in Maharashtra's Thane city has granted bail to a political party worker who was arrested for allegedly trying to defame the family members of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, reported news agency PTI.
According to the police, Ajay Jeya of Dharmarajya Paksha made defamatory remarks after the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on May 25 pulled down the extended portion of a sweet shop, reported PTI.
Jeya claimed on social media that the action was taken after a relative of the CM had a tiff at the shop, police had said.
In the bail order, First Class Judicial Magistrate M D Nanaware observed that Jeya was arrested on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday after being booked under Indian Penal Code sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), and 505(2) (promoting feeling of enmity between groups), reported PTI.
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Offences punishable under sections 500 and 501 are bailable, said the court. The judge also said that prima facie the "ingredient of offence punishable under section 505(2) of the IPC are not attracted here" as it has been alleged that Jeya tried to promote hatred against the civic body.
The court ordered the release of Jeya, who was represented by advocate Sanjay Kanhere, on furnishing a personal bond and surety bond of Rs 15,000.
The Thane city police in Maharashtra on Tuesday registered another case against the member of a political outfit, who was earlier booked for allegedly defaming Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's family. The suspect was arrested after a case was registered against him by the Thane police.
According to the police, the suspect identified as Ajay Jeya of Dharmarajya Paksha, had allegedly made defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's family after the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) pulled down an extended portion of a sweet shop in the Panch Pakhadi area. The action was taken by the Thane Municipal Corporation on on May 25. Following the action, the suspect had allegedly made remarks against CM Shinde's family on social media platform.
Following the demolition, Jeya claimed on social media that the action was taken after a relative of the chief minister had a tiff at the shop, the official told the PTI.
The shop owner on Monday lodged a complaint with the Naupada police saying that no such incident ever occurred. He said, similar action was taken against other shops in the area and that Jeya was trying to defame Shinde's family.
The police had then registered a case under Indian Penal Code section 500 (defamation), the official said.
Meanwhile, an another offence was been registered against Jeya based on a complaint by an assistant municipal commissioner of the Thane Municipal Corporation. In his complaint, the officials said that as a part of the drive to remove encroachments, the civic staff had removed encroachments from the shop in question and other shops as well that day, according to the PTI.
The civic official in his complaint alleged that through his social media post, the suspect had defamed the civic body and its officials and compared it to Mughal rule, and hurt the feelings of the employees of the civic body, reported the PTI on Tuesday.
(With inputs from PTI)
