Among the seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters booked by police in Mira Bhayandar, Thane district, on the charges of assaulting a shopkeeper after demanding that he speak in Marathi, three are office-bearers or active members of the party.
Identified via video footage of the incident, which is part of the investigation, the three are members of the MNS Mira Bhayandar unit, led by its ‘City Chief’ Sandeep Rane.
In addition to registering an FIR, the police Friday also initiated proceedings against the seven, requiring them to sign bonds promising not to engage in any criminal activity. Senior Inspector Rajendra Kambale of Kashimira Police Station said preventive notices have been served on the seven and investigation is on to verify the sequence of events.
The Mira Bhayandar incident follows several such incidents involving MNS workers. In December last year, some of its activists slapped a shopkeeper at Girgaon in south Mumbai, a day after he allegedly asked a woman to speak to him in Marwari instead of Marathi. No complaint was lodged in the incident.
In March this year, MNS workers were accused of slapping an employee of a leading supermarket store in Mumbai for not speaking in Marathi. The following month, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said at a Gudi Padwa rally that Marathi should be made mandatory for all official purposes in the state, and said people should not hesitate to slap anyone who refuses to speak Marathi.
The same month, police in Powai, Mumbai, booked three MNS members and a grocery app delivery agent for allegedly slapping a security guard of a Powai residential society for not speaking in Marathi. They also forced the guard to apologise, the police complaint stated.
In June, MNS workers attacked an auto-rickshaw driver in Mumbai and forced him to apologise for allegedly using objectionable language against a Marathi-speaking passenger as well as Raj Thackeray.
The matters are in court.
Following the latest incident, Rane, the Mira Bhayandar MNS chief, said the shop owner was to blame as he started arguing with his party workers who were celebrating the withdrawal of the three-language policy order by the government, and insulted the Marathi language. “We do not support the assault, but at the same time, we will also not tolerate the insult of Marathi language and Marathi-speaking people,” Rane said.
MNS spokesperson Sandip Deshpande claimed the same. Asked about the FIRs against MNS workers, he said the law had to take its course, “but we will not tolerate the insult of Marathi”.
The three MNS leaders behind latest case:
Karan Kandangire, 30
The ‘Deputy City Chief’ of the MNS in the Mira Bhayandar region, Kandangire has been active in the party for the past six years, regularly organising protests and political activities in the area. He is considered a close aide of Sandeep Rane, and is frequently seen with him at party events.
There are also photographs of Kandangire with MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray on several occasions.
Kandangire, who is married, runs a ‘labour supply’ and ‘real estate services’ business.
Police records show he was previously booked in a case of obstructing a public servant during Covid-19. He was part of a group of MNS workers who allegedly created disturbance at the Vasai Virar Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation office, accusing civic officials of consuming alcohol on duty.
After the FIR was filed against him, Kandangire posted on social media: “I have many non-Marathi-speaking friends… and they respect Marathi-speaking people and Marathi language. But there are some who despise Marathi language and Marathi people. They should always be shown their place.”
Pramod Nilekat, 32
Nilekat is the ‘District Organiser’ of the MNS’s Vaahtuk Sena (transport wing). Also associated with the party for several years, he like Kandangire has been actively involved in the MNS’s organisational work in the Mira Bhayandar region. He also took part in the Maratha quota agitation, and is seen as close to Rane.
Nilekat, who is married, runs an outlet selling pastries, cakes and ice-cream in Mira Bhayandar.
There are no previous police cases registered against him.
Akshay Salvi, 31
A party worker who lives in Dahisar, Mumbai, unlike the other two who are based in Mira Bhayandar, Dalvi, who is married, is employed with a private firm.
He too has been active in the Mira Bhayandar unit of the MNS, organising party activities.
He has no other cases registered against him.