Navi Mumbai: Amit Thackeray accepts police notice in unlawful assembly case

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS leader Amit Thackeray on Sunday accepted a police notice issued to him for allegedly inaugurating the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Nerul without official permissionHis visit to the Nerul police station which was otherwise expected to be a brief procedural formality turned into a major show of strength as several hundred MNS workers gathered in support chanting slogans and accompanying him in a large processionIn a post on X the Maharashtra Navnirman Vidhyarthi Sena said the statue had been ldquogathering dust for the past four monthsrdquo and claimed it was opened for public viewing under Thackerayrsquos guidance ldquoAn FIR was filed against Amit Thackeray but he gladly accepted this lsquofirst offencersquo for the honour of Maharaj Today after offering a respectful salute before the image of Shivaji Maharaj Mr Amit Thackeray along with hundreds of Maharashtra Sainiks marched on foot to the local police station and formally accepted the notice issued by the policerdquo the post read FIR ldquo rdquo hellip pictwittercomNZ5BHFOObumdash MNVS Adhikrut MNVS_Adhikrut November 23 2025Before reaching the police station Thackeray offered a floral tribute to the statue and then walked with MNS officebearers Navi Mumbai functionaries and local supporters His supporters said the act was aimed at opposing ldquounnecessary delaysrdquo in unveiling completed statues of the revered Maratha kingPolice had earlier registered a case against Thackeray mdash son of MNS chief Raj Thackeray mdash and nearly 70 others after a crowd allegedly forced open the cover of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue last week The incident took place despite an officially scheduled ceremony by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation NMMCAddressing a gathering on Sunday Amit Thackeray said he was prepared to face more such cases if required ldquoI am ready to face many more such casesrdquo he said He added that several statues of iconic historical figures across Maharashtra were awaiting formal inaugurations due to administrative delays ldquoThose statues will also be inaugurated We will not allow our icons to remain coveredrdquo he assertedThackeray also announced that the MNS would soon launch a statewide campaign focused on conserving Maharashtrarsquos historical forts calling it an important responsibility for the younger generationHe welcomed Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaskersquos remarks opposing the official unveiling planned on Friday by state forest minister Ganesh Naik The statue had remained covered for nearly five months despite being completed While the NMMC had scheduled an official ceremony with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as chief guest Shinde did not attend the event leading to further political friction over the issue