Raj Thackeray likely to be arrested today

A team of Mumbai Police has arrived at the residence of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who is likely to be arrested today for inciting violence in the city.

Mumbai, Feb 13 : A team of Mumbai Police has arrived at the residence of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who is likely to be arrested today for inciting violence in the city.

The Maharashtra Home Ministry has cleared his arrest after he was charged under non-bailable offences.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil met the Congress party President Sonia Gandhi today to discuss the matter with her.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have beefed up security at Thackeray's residence after a case was registered against him for disturbing harmony in the city.

MNS activists took to violence in Pune, Nasik and Marathwada in protest against the impending arrest of Thackeray.

Earlier, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), K L Prasad, had said that the arrest is inevitable in this case.

"The cases have been registered on the basis of certain evidence and arrest is mandatory," Prasad, said.

Mumbai Police had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Thackeray on Monday at the Vikroli Police Station. Raj was booked under the non-bailable Section 153A, B and Section 117 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for inciting violence in the city.

Mumbai was rocked by sporadic incidents of violence on February 3 after Raj Thackeray had called for a Maharashtra for Maharashtrians.

The MNS has been targeting north Indian migrants living in the metropolis and objected to celebrations like Chhat Puja and Uttar Pradesh Diwas in Maharashtra.

He had also criticised film star Amitabh Bachchan for being regionalist. West Bengal's Communists were also described as non-liberal and unsecular.

English and Hindi language journalists were also criticised at a press conference on Saturday.

ANI