Mumbai court likely to decide bail order of Rana couple on May 2 over Hanuman Chalisa row

A special court is likely to decide the bail plea of jailed Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana on May 2. Advocate Rizwan Merchant & Abad Ponda appeared for the Rana Couple and SPP Pradeep Gharat argued for Khar Police Station.

On Saturday, both prosecution and defence completed their arguments, after which Special Judge RN Rokade reserved the order for Monday.

Rana couple were arrested on April 23 after they gave a call to recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshree.' The Ranas eventually dropped their plan, but were arrested by



the police and booked for sedition and `promoting enmity between different groups'.

They are currently in judicial custody. While Navneet Rana is lodged in Byculla prison, her husband is in Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.

The Mumbai police had told a special court that while on the face of it the plan of Rana couple to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside the Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence may look innocent, but it was in fact a "big plot" to challenge the MVA government.

A magistrate's court on Friday had rejected Rana couple applications seeking home food in prison.