2008 hotel attack: Court aquits Raj Thackeray

Mumbai: A court in Nashik district Wednesday acquitted Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray in connection with a 2008 attack on a hotel by his party workers.

According to the prosecution, Mr Thackeray instigated his party workers to assemble unlawfully and attack the hotel owned by a north Indian in Igatpuri town of Nashik district in 2008, thus endangering lives and causing hurt to others.

A magistrate court in Igatpuri, while acquitting Mr Thackeray Wednesday, said that the prosecution had failed to prove that the MNS chief instigated his workers. Apart from Mr Thackeray, six others were accused in the case.

Mr Thackeray's trial was conducted separately where the prosecution examined five witnesses. “The complainant (owner of the hotel) in his testimony said that Mr Thackeray was not present at the place where the alleged incident took place. The prosecution could also not bring forward any evidence to show that Mr Thackeray instigated the attack,” the lawyer for MNS, Sayaji Nangre said.

In 2008, the Raj Thackeray led MNS party agitated against north Indians staying in Mumbai and its suburban areas. He was demanding jobs for Marathi people in Mumbai. His party workers beat up many north Indians and ransacked their shops and hawking stalls. Several cases were filed against Mr Thackeray throughout the state and some of them withdrawn by the state government.