Rana couple get sedition charges, 14-day judicial custody

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police has charged independent MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana with sedition charges after Bandra Magistrate Court sent them to 14 days' judicial custody, IANS reported.

The court has declined Ranas' plea for an urgent hearing on their bail application. According to Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat, the bail hearing will be taken only on April 29.

Ranas' counsel, Rizwan Merchant, had contended before the court that the police forged the case and the charges added over the couple were out of pressure. He claimed that all the charges against them are baseless since the couple has not violated any laws. The council accused the police of filing two separate FIRs with enhanced charges of IPC Section 124(A) pertaining to sedition. He contended that the same was not mentioned in the demand plea and the government's lawyers failed to explain this charge before the court.

IANS reported that Navneet Rana is likely to be taken to the Byculla Women's Jail and Ravi Rana to Arthur Road Central Jail.

The Ranas were served prohibitory notices, detained and arrested on Saturday. This was after they threatened to march to the private residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and chant 'hanuman Chalisa'. However, they were stopped by hundreds of aggressive Shiv Sainiks and the police.

Despite claiming that they were framed in the case by the CM, their lawyers are likely to file a fresh bail plea on Monday, IANS reported.