The Bombay High Court on Friday pulled up the Maharashtra government for not filing chargesheets in cases filed against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his party workers in the wake of their violent agitation over Marathi signboards issue.

"Why no chargesheets have been filed against any of the offenders?" Division Bench of Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar and Justice S A Bobde asked.

"Keep the senior officer in charge of the probe present in the court next Wednesday (December 10)," High Court ordered.

Raj in July, 2008 issued a virtual diktat to shopkeepers and businessmen in the city that they must put up Marathi signboards.

In September there were incidents of vandalism and violence targeting shops not having Marathi boards.

Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association had filed application in the High Court seeking protection from MNS' vandalism. Court had passed order restraining the MNS and Raj from indulging in violence.

On Friday, the government lawyer submitted to the court list of MNS workers arrested and cases filed against them.

The accused were arrested and eventually got bail, said advocate V A Gangal representing state.

But the court asked whether anyone has been chargesheeted. When Gangal replied that probe was still on, Chief Justice Kumar asked, "What investigation? Is this a murder trial?"

"Why no chargesheets have been filed yet?" Chief Justice asked.

The court observed that the incidents had taken place in September so there was no reason why the prosecution could not have started yet.

It directed that the senior official-in-charge of cases against Raj and MNS workers be kept present in the court on December 10.

... contd.