Interim HC relief for Rane in 2002 MLA poaching case

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday gave temporary relief to former Congress leader Narayan Rane and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Bala Nandgaonkar in the 2002 atrocity case. The court has directed the session’s court not to commit to the case further till the high court decides the petition filed by Mr Rane and Mr Nandgaonkar.  

Accused counsel Rajendra Shirodkar told The Asian Age that he has moved a petition before Justices Amjad Sayed and Makrand Karnik, saying that no case under SC/ST Act should be attributed to them. “We are ready to face trial under various sections of the IPC,” he said. He added that after giving relief to Mr Rane and Mr Nandgaonkar the court has kept the hearing after three weeks.

According to former MLA Padmkar Walvi, who MLA of NCP when he was allegedly abducted by Mr Rane and Mr Nandgaonkar, an MLA from Dhule, Vasant Suryavanshi, had allegedly sent a vehicle to pick him up and take him to the Matoshri Sports Club where Mr Rane and the late BJP leader Gopinath Munde were present in the adjoining room. Mr Valvi alleged that the two men insisted that he write to the Governor withdrawing his support from the government and extending support to the BJP-Sena alliance instead.

Walvi then filed a complaint against Mr Rane, Mr Nandgaonkar and one Ravi Shendge under Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes Act.