MNS chief Raj Thackeray appears in Thane court in 2008 rioting case

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS chief Raj Thackeray appeared before a Thane Court on Thursday in connection with a 2008 rioting case and pleaded not guilty news agency PTI reported quoting his lawyerThane Maharashtra In connection with the 2008 railway recruitment case MNS President Raj Thackeray appeared today at the Thane District Sessions Court Advocate Omkar Rajurkar says There were 18 accused and we have decided to charge them and the trial will start soon pictwittercomCLCmtsFFv7mdash IANS ians_india December 11 2025A large crowd of supporters gathered outside as Thackeray appeared before Chief Judicial Magistrate AV Kulkarni The court framed charges against him and several MNS workers related to rioting assault on candidates and attacks on police personnel on October 19 2008When the magistrate asked whether he accepted the charges Thackeray said he did not The matter has now been posted for the next hearing on December 16 according to his lawyer Rajendra Shirodkar He added that the MNS chief would attend court proceedings whenever directedSecurity was heightened and the court premises saw heavy crowds as Thackeray arrived for the hearingThe case stems from allegations that Thackeray and MNS workers targeted candidates from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who had come to appear for the Railway Recruitment Board exam in 2008 In all 54 cases were registered against him and party members He was granted bail at the time on a surety of Rs 1 lakhActing on a Bombay High Court directive Thackeray surrendered before the court in June 2009 after his anticipatory bail was set aside The High Court had concluded that custodial interrogation was not required but agreed with the state government that the anticipatory bail granted earlier by a lower court had become infructuousShiv Sena UBT and MNS release videos alleging Maharashtra government corruptionThe Shiv Sena UBT and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS on Tuesday released separate videos alleging corruption within the Maharashtra government triggering sharp political exchanges during the winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur In a video shared by Shiv Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve Alibaug MLA Mahendra Dalvi from the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena faction is allegedly seen handling a large bundle of cash Dalvi has denied the allegationSpeaking to the media in Nagpur Dalvi said the video had been manipulated and held no truth He also hinted without naming him directly that Ajit Pawar led NCP leader and MP Sunil Tatkare was involved ldquoSomeone from Raigad is behind all thisrdquo Dalvi said Although both Tatkare and Dalvi belong to the Mahayuti alliance the two are known for frequently taking jabs at each other ldquoAttempts are being made to tarnish my image I am willing to resign as MLA if this video is proven genuinerdquo Dalvi addedThe video circulated by Danve sparked uproar on the second day of the winter session While Shiv Sena UBT leaders demanded action Shinde Sena ministers defended their MLA Responding to Dalvirsquos allegations Danve said the MLA should first prove the video is fake rather than questioning its source ldquoI stand by what I have saidrdquo Danve assertedTatkare also hit back criticising Dalvi for dragging him into the controversy ldquoI havenrsquot spoken to Danve not even over the phone Why would I involve myself in something like this I deal with issues directly not in such a manner with oppositions helprdquo the MP from Raigad saidMeanwhile in Mumbai MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande held a press conference alleging largescale corruption in the public works department He also showed a video in which an alleged PWD employee is seen handling cash ldquoThis money is taken for clearing tenders and for processing pending contractor billsrdquo Deshpande claimedWith PTI inputs