Hanuman Chalisa Row A Plot To Overthrow Maharashtra Government : Mumbai Police Opposes Bail To MP-MLA Duo

Citing witness statements, the police said that the Shiv Sena has formed an alliance with two parties, the NCP and INC in Maharashtra who claim that their politics is not religion based.

"BJP leaders who have been deprived from power are strongly opposing the administrative policies of the present government and criticizing Shiv Sena for their stand on Hindutva."

Therefore, political parties and independents are raising the issue and alleging that the Chief Minister is against Hindutva and sponsoring the cause of another religion.

The police claimed that the couple's interviews till the day they were arrested on April 23, 2022 'crossed limits of fair criticism permitted by law in a democratic country' and are within the ambit of section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code since they intended to create public disorder.

"How innocent these pleadings may look like, the respondent (Mumbai police) says that these submissions are most hypocritical since the plan to read "Hanuman Chalisa" at the private residence of the Hon'ble Chief Minister at Matoshree bungalow is a big plot to create a challenge to the law and order situation and to the maintenance of law and order by the government established by the rule of law to such an extent that the collapse of law and order can be pleaded and the recommendation can be made for dissolution of the present government by the Governor of Maharashtra," the reply stated.

The couple filed the bail application earlier this week to which the police filed a response on Friday. The hearing is scheduled for Saturday.

The police claimed that an attempt was being made to show that the government is anti-Hindu and to increase hatred for other religions with an intention to cause a rift.

The plea said that Matoshree is treated as a sacred place by Shiv Sainiks and any challenge to it is not tolerated, thus the announcement was intended to create breach of peace and issues of law and order.

And to create such law and order problem,  an issue would be required which would show that the present Government is not sponsoring the cause of Hinduism and the Chief Minister is against Hindus so that it will create hatred or contempt in the minds of general public or will excite disaffection against the Government of Maharashtra, the police said.

At the same time it would promote feelings of ill-will and hostility on the point of religion under the impression that in the present regime it is difficult for Hindus to practice their religion freely and thus the feeling of hate alternatively will increased against the Muslim religion and thus the rift between different classes of citizens will increase and the community will get divided on the point of religion, the police added.

In the bail application filed through advocate Rizwan Merchant the couple claimed that they had no intention to promote violence and that the government cannot afford to be "hypersensitive" and impervious to criticism.

The reply also refers to the antecedents of the couple, claiming that there are 18 criminal cases against the MLA and seven against the MP and if granted bail, they may tamper with evidence.

The couple's petition to quash a criminal case against them filed allegedly for resisting arrest was rejected by the Bombay High Court on Monday with the court observing that those active in political and public life are expected to act more responsibly.