Nashik: Union Minister Narayan Rane has been arrested by a team of Nashik Police on Tuesday after multiple FIRs were lodged against him. Rane had made controversial remarks against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray which sparked fury among Shiv Sena leaders and workers and resulted in his arrest.
Rane, who is the Union Minister for micro, small and medium enterprises, became the first Union Minister to be arrested in 20 years.
The Bombay High Court rejected an urgent hearing on Rane's petition after he failed to secure a last-minute reprieve from the high court. In the petition, Rane sought quashing of three of the four FIRs lodged against him. However, the bench of the high court had refused his plea and his lawyers were asked to follow the due process.
As many as four FIRs were lodged after the Union Minister said that he would slap CM Uddhav Thackeray.
"It is shameful that the Chief Minister does not know the year of independence. He leaned back to ask about the count of years of independence during his speech. Had I been there, I would have given him a tight slap," said the Union Minister.
Rane's residence in Mumbai's Juhu witnessed a clash that had broken out between the leaders and workers of Shiv Sena and the opposition party BJP.
Rane's remarks have led to protests by Shiv Sena workers who have also clashed with BJP workers on the streets of Mumbai.
At the time of his arrest, Narayan Rane was taking part in a rally of BJP's Jan Ashirwad in the Konkan region. He was later taken to Sangameshwar Police Station in Ratnagiri before being handed over to Raigad Police.
Also Watch: