Marathi signboards issue: ‘Is this a murder trial?’

“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.

“Affidavits filed by the government are not satisfactory. Produce entire records of the cases. The officer will have to explain why chargesheets are not yet filed,” the court said.

Earlier, Federation’s lawyer Majid Memon said that after the High Court’s orders in September, traders have faced no trouble from MNS.

“It has now subsided,” Memon said.