BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has once again made headlines with his controversial statements. The NRI police station has now registered an FIR against him under serious sections. Nitesh made a provocative statement regarding the minority community during his speech at a Ganpati event in Navi Mumbai.
Nitesh is the son of BJP MP from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg and former Union Minister Narayan Rane. Narayan Rane has also served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while Nitesh is an MLA from Kankavli.
Nitesh Rane Attended Ganpati Festival
A police officer said that based on a complaint by a policeman, an FIR has been registered against Nitesh Rane and the event organizer at the NRI police station on Sunday. The complainant alleged that Sankalp Gharat organized a seven-day Ganpati festival in Ulwe without permission and invited MLA Rane as the chief guest.
FIR Against Nitesh and Organizer
The complaint states that Nitesh Rane attended the event on September 11. He allegedly made an inciting speech targeting the minority community. FIR was filed against Nitesh and the organizer under sections 302 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Controversial Statement in Ahmednagar
This is not the first time Nitesh Rane's provocative speeches have stirred controversy. Earlier, in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Nitesh made an inflammatory statement. He warned that if anyone said anything against our Ramgiri Maharaj, they would be beaten up in mosques. Notably, Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj faced allegations of making derogatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad at a religious event in Nashik district on August 14. Protests erupted in various parts of the state in response.
Later, on behalf of the Sakal Hindu Samaj in Ahmednagar, a rally was led by BJP leader Nitesh Rane in support of Ramgiri Maharaj. A large number of people from the Hindu community participated. During this rally, Nitesh Rane openly threatened the Muslim community. A case was registered against BJP MLA Nitesh Rane at the Tofkhana police station in Ahmednagar district.
Earlier this year, in April, four hate speech cases were registered against Rane for allegedly threatening the minority community after the communal violence in Mira Road, a northern suburb of Mumbai, in January. However, the police later decided not to register a case against Nitesh Rane for inciting religious sentiments, arguing that the BJP MLA used terms like 'Rohingya and Bangladeshi,' which do not apply to Indians.
