The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed factual report from the Maharashtra government regarding independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana’s allegation about her arrest and “inhumane treatment” meted out at Khar Police Station in Mumbai, top government officials said on Tuesday.
The officials said the MHA took the action following a request made by Lok Sabha Privilege and Ethics Committee. “MHA has sought a factual report from the Maharashtra government regarding independent Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana’s allegation about her arrest and “inhumane treatment” meted out at Khar PS. Lok Sabha Privilege and Ethics Committee had asked MHA to seek a report earlier,” said the officials.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also sought details from the Maharashtra government within 24 hours on the arrest of independent MP Navneet Rana in Mumbai, after receiving a letter from the Amravati lawmaker that she had been subjected to “inhuman treatment” by the police following her “illegal” arrest two days ago.
In her letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, the MP accused Mumbai Police of not providing her drinking water in custody while allegedly citing her “neechi zaat” (lower caste), and abusing her on the basis of caste. The Lok Sabha MP has demanded strict action against Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey and claimed the action against her and her husband was taken on directions of the Maharashtra chief minister. Navneet and her husband Ravi Rana, who is an independent MLA, were arrested on Saturday from their Mumbai residence after declaring that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s home in Bandra. Rana was lodged after her arrest at Khar Police Station. She was later moved to the Byculla women’s prison on Sunday evening. The two were booked in two FIRs lodged on charges of sedition, promoting enmity, and assaulting a public servant to prevent discharge of duty.
Meanwhile, hours after Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey tweeted a video of Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana sipping tea while in police custody, the parliamentarian on Tuesday issued a clarification through her lawyer claiming that “ill-treatment” was meted out to her in the lock-up of the Santacruz police station after her arrest last Saturday, and not at the Khar police station. The Bombay High Court has on Monday dismissed as “devoid of merits” a writ plea by Navneet and Ravi Rana arrested in connection with the Hanuman Chalisa controversy. The couple had sought to quash an FIR registered by the Mumbai police for resisting their arrest. They are likely to approach the Supreme Court against the order.