Mumbai Police File Case Against Thackeray March Organisers for Lack of Permits

The Mumbai Police have lodged a First Information Report against the organisers of the 'Garjana Morcha' march led by the Thackeray faction, citing violation of permission protocols for public gatherings. According to police records, the demonstration proceeded without obtaining mandatory clearances from civic authorities, prompting the filing of charges under relevant sections of the law.

Uddhav Thackeray, head of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, responded to the police action by accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of weaponising the Election Commission to pursue political rivalries. Thackeray alleged that the BJP was using state machinery to suppress opposition voices during the election period, a charge the ruling party has previously denied.

Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat weighed in on the matter, calling for political unity among opposition parties in the face of what he termed governmental overreach. The remarks underscore deepening tensions between Maharashtra's ruling coalition and opposition factions ahead of ongoing electoral contests.

The incident highlights ongoing disputes over protest permissions in Mumbai, where organisers of demonstrations from various political camps have frequently clashed with authorities over procedural compliance. Police have maintained that the FIR was filed strictly on the basis of regulatory violations, independent of the march's political nature.