High court gives 'last chance' to Navneet Rana
A appeal submitted by the Ranas to be released from the mumbai police case against them after the Hanuman Chalisa incident in 2022 was being heard by the Justice SM modak panel. In 2022, Navneet and ravi were charged with obstructing the performance of a public servant's duties. Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to dissuade a public worker from doing his duties) and 34 (common intention) of the indian Penal Code (IPC) were invoked in this case against the Ranas.
Although mumbai police have not yet brought charges against the two in the Hanuman Chalisa controversy, a case has been launched in that instance as well. In this instance, the Ranas were detained and imprisoned for almost a month in 2022.
The pair said in their appeal submitted to the high court that the charges against them were wholly untrue, the FIR was lodged too late, and the investigation was corrupted.
In their petition, the Ranas alleged that the police had launched a case under section 353 of the IPC since they had gone to arrest them on suspicion of manhandling police officers.
While providing the Ranas with respite on january 18, the high court also ordered the trial court to postpone the hearing and the filing of charges against them to a later date. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the petition could not be heard on the following date, february 21.