Union minister Narayan Rane, arrested on Tuesday over his remarks about slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he called Mr Thackeray's "ignorance of the year India won Independence", has been granted bail by a court in Maharashtra's Mahad.
Mr Rane was taken into custody by police in coastal Ratnagiri district, where he is travelling as part of the Jan Ashirwad Yatra, an official said.
Mr Rane, who joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet in July as Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, is the first Union Minister to be arrested in 20 years.
Mr Rane had claimed Mr Thackeray forgot the year of independence during his August 15 address and had to check with his aides mid-speech.
"It is shameful that the Chief Minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to ask about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given him a tight slap," Mr Rane said in the public meeting at Raigad.
Here are the LIVE updates on Narayan Rane's Arrest:
Narayan Rane will have to appear before the police on August 31 and September 13. The Union Minister has been granted bail on a surety of Rs 15,000. If a voice sample is needed, the minister will have to be given a notice seven days in advance, Narayan Rane's lawyer Rajendra Shirodkar told NDTV.
Narayan Rane has been granted bail by the court in Mahad. His lawyer cited Mr Rane's health conditions and that Mr Rane is an Union Minister in the bail plea. Notice was not given before Narayan Rane was arrested and whatever sections were imposed were politically motivated sections, his lawyer further argued.
Union Minister Narayan Rane has been sent to judicial custody (in connection with his alleged statement against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray): BJP MLC Prasad Lad pic.twitter.com/asDqtG4aen
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021
Union Minister Narayan Rane who was detained earlier in the day has now been arrested and is being produced before Magistrate Court in Mahad, Raigad; in connection with his statement against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray pic.twitter.com/jnzgG52HA6
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021
"I don't support Narayan Rane's statement. But if he's arrested or arrest warrant is issued against him for remarks against Chief Minister, what's happening to their leaders who comment against Governor, a constitutional functionary, almost daily?" Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil told news agency ANI.
"Maharashtra government's decision to arrest Narayan Rane against constitutional values," news agency PTI quoted BJP chief JP Nadda as saying. "We won't be cowed down by such actions," Mr Nadda added.
Action against Union Minister Narayanrao Rane is absolute vendetta !
- Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 24, 2021
We strongly condemn this gross misuse of police force & suppression.
Sharjeel Usmani is free & Narayan Rane arrested!
This is their Hindutva & This is what Maharashtra looks like ‼️@MeNarayanRane #NarayanRane
Union Minister Narayan Rane was arrested shortly after a court refused his request for an urgent hearing of his petition to cancel the FIRs against him over his comments on slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Mr Rane had challenged FIRs or First Information Reports against him in at least three cities and had sought protection from arrest. He had also asked the Bombay High Court to pass an interim order to protect him from any action.
"Taliban-Like Governance": BJP Slams Minister Narayan Rane's ArrestThe BJP distanced itself from Narayan Rane's controversial remarks about slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, but at the same time backed the Union Minister today.
What happened in Maharashtra is against all norms, not only of decency of protocol, but also law. This is the depths to which depravity will now be politically exhibited in Maharashtra. It's a sad day in our constitutional history: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Narayan Rane pic.twitter.com/Y9Rfiuy6R3
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021
While party chief JP Nadda said the minister's arrest was a "violation of constitutional values", the state's leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis spoke of "Taliban-like governance". Read Here.
Maharashtra | Cyber Police Station, Nashik has registered an FIR under IPC sections 500, 505(2), 153 (B)1(C) against Union Minister Narayan Rane over his remarks against Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021
Watch: Union Minister Narayan Rane Was Arrested While Having A MealUnion Minister Narayan Rane was arrested today over his comment on slapping Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for what he called his "ignorance of the year India won Independence". Mr Rane was arrested while he was having a meal. A crowd of supporters is seen trying to shield him.
Union Minister #NarayanRane arrested while eating over his comment on slapping the #Maharashtra Chief Minister
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2021
More here: https://t.co/U94Pzc2Hsa pic.twitter.com/fxSY32Olf4
"The action taken against Union Minister #NarayanRane has been done with revenge. I strongly condemn this repression of the police system": Former #Maharashtra Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavishttps://t.co/a4LUij426a
- NDTV (@ndtv) August 24, 2021
Maharashtra: Shiv Sena workers show black flags as they staged a protest in Mumbai's Lalbaug against Union Minister Narayan Rane
- ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2021
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar was also present at the spot pic.twitter.com/r4IQSuFSYe
