Police have registered a case against BJP's Mumbai unit chief Mangal Prabhat Lodha and 31 others for staging a protest near the Mantralaya in Mumbai, an official said on Thursday.
The protest was organised by the BJP on Wednesday against Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole's remarks referring to 'Modi', he said. During the protest, police took Mr Lodha and others into custody and they were taken to the Marine Drive police station later, he said, adding they were charged under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Mr Patole, who had a brief stint with the BJP as an MP earlier, has kicked up a controversy with his purported remark that he could "beat up, badmouth Modi". He has, however, denied that he was speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But the BJP has been targeting Mr Patole over the remarks, with several leaders terming his clarification as false. The BJP has been demanding strict police action against him and seeking his arrest.
