Goswami was charged with using derogatory language against CM, NCP chief; Ranaut was charged for comparing Mumbai to PoK
Dharmendra Jore (MID-DAY; September 9, 2020)

The Maha Vikas Aghadi members in the Maharashtra Legislature have moved a breach of privilege motion against the editor of a private news channel, Arnab Goswami, and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut.

Senior Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik submitted the motion against Goswami in the Assembly, charging him for using derogatory language against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) boss Sharad Pawar.

Congress veteran Bhai Jagtap filed the motion against Kangana in the upper house for comparing Mumbai to Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Both personalities have also been accused of defaming the Mumbai police.

The presiding officers hadn't decided on accepting the motion for further action which includes cross examination of the people involved by a privilege committee of the houses. The committee recommends punishment, including imprisonment, for the guilty. In some instances, journalists, activists and bureaucrats have been punished.

MVA Vs BJP
Sarnaik's motion was supported by parliamentary affair minister Anil Parab, who said Arnab acted like a judge and used foul language against the CM and Pawar. "He is a tin pot journalist, who has been contracted (by some people) to malign the image of our leaders. If this house can make a law to protect journalists from violence, it can also take action against such a journalist," said Parab.

Parab asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) whether it gets hurt when someone insults the prime minister. "You should support our move and condemn such journalists," he said. Senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal also spoke in support of the motion. But prompted by certain remarks from the MVA side, the opposition took up a noisy protest. The house was adjourned twice before Deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal said due procedure will be followed.

'What About The PM And Governor?'
Debating the supplementary demand later in the day, opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis asked the government if it wanted to suppress the media by using legislative tools. "We don't support derogatory language against the CM or any other leader. Will you apply the same yardstick to Saamana (Sena's mouthpiece) that uses highly objectionable words against the PM and the Maharashtra governor?

We definitely want the CM to be respected, but we don't like your double standard in respect with the PM and governor," said the ex-CM, adding that he could say the Mumbai police was the best after working five years as the home minister, but didn't understand who put them under pressure to delay and divert the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe. Fadnavis reminded the house that (the CM) Thackeray had also insulted the police by saying that "their ability was restricted to the job of cleaning utensils'.

Stopping just short of naming him directly, Opposition leaders welcomed the SC order by taking potshots at Aaditya Thackeray
Chaitanya Marpakwar (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2020)

The Supreme Court order for a CBI probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput was met with glee by several BJP leaders, including MLAs who have been leading the demand for a CBI probe into the death. Welcoming the verdict, some went on social media to attack the ‘baby penguin’ and ‘pub and party gang’ as the political war of words intensified.

While they didn’t name any leader, the attacks were clearly directed at Shiv Sena leader and state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray, who has already denied any links with the case or the actors involved.

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane was one of the first to react on Wednesday. “Ab Baby penguin toh giyo!!! It’s SHOWTIME!” the MLA tweeted. Nitesh’s attacks on the issue have been relentless. However so far, he has not named anyone in his tweets but they have been indicative enough to create speculation and a political furore. “Wouldn’t it be fair if the Maharashtra cabinet minister who was named today in the apex court shud resign so there is a fair trial in the SSR case? Or R the rules different here?” Nitesh had tweeted on August 11.

The Supreme Court ordered on Wednesday that the CBI would take over the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The SC asked the Mumbai police to hand over all evidence it has collected to the agency. A “fair, competent and impartial probe” is the need of the hour to stop speculation, the apex court noted.

Thanking the SC, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar tweeted, ‘CBI enquiry = #Justice4ssr! “Hidden hands” misguiding police investigation will be exposed! Jail time for ‘Pub & party gang’ who enjoyed illegally, while 15,000+ Mumbaikars died in lockdown’. Former CM Devendra Fadnavis also welcomed the SC order, tweeting, “Maharashtra Government now needs to introspect on the way they handled this case.”

Parth Pawar, son of deputy CM Ajit Pawar who had earlier demanded a CBI probe into the case, reacted on twitter with just “Satyameva Jayate”. Parth’s backing of a CBI investigation had drawn a very public snub from his grand uncle NCP chief Sharad Pawar.

Aaditya has already distanced himself from the actor’s death and the controversy and the conspiracy theories surrounding it. Earlier this month, Aaditya dismissed all unconfirmed reports linking him to the case saying, “This is all dirty politics.” He said that the rumours were being floated by those who are “jealous of the good work that the Maharashtra government has done with respect to tackling Covid-19”. Aaditya had added that it was not a crime to have friends in Bollywood.

While Aaditya didn’t respond to the SC’s order on Wednesday, Shiv Sena minister Anil Parab said that this was a ploy to defame Aaditya and the state government. “The Constitution has given some powers to the state. So, to ensure that the Constitution is not shaken up, we had demanded that the case remain with the state government. Our position was that consent should be taken from the Maharashtra government for a CBI probe. It is the Opposition’s agenda to spoil the name of Aaditya ji. They are frustrated since they could not come to power. The government is working well and so they are trying to defame it,” Parab said.

A Yuva Sena functionary said that Aaditya, who batted for promotion of nightlife in the city, keeping malls open 24x7, and fought to save the hacking of trees at the Aarey Colony, had become popular among the liberal circles. “The BJP is trying to damage brand Aaditya since there is no other youth leader in the state in the early 30s who enjoys popularity like him,” the functionary said.

Sujit Mahamulkar (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 5, 2020)

Mumbai: Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday refuted all allegations linking him to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, calling it an attempt to malign him and his family by people who “are not being able to digest the success and popularity of the Maharashtra government”. His statement came in response to some claims on social media that a prominent politician was seen entering the building where Sushant lived, and that a party was held at the actor’s flat a day before he died.

Issuing a public statement, Thackeray said, “I have nothing to do with the case, whatsoever.”

I have good relations with several Bollywood personalities and it is not a crime. Sushant’s death is unfortunate and shocking. However, Mumbai police is investigating the case in depth… those who do not trust the law are unnecessarily creating confusion and trying to mislead the probe,” said Thackeray, who is state tourism minister.

The Sena youth leader added, “As a grandson of Hindu hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray, I wish to say that I will not act in a manner that will harm the image of Maharashtra, Shiv Sena and Thackeray family. People who are levelling false allegations should understand this.” He said whoever has evidence should submit it to Mumbai police probing the matter. Thackeray’s reaction came in the wake of allegations from the opposition that the government was trying to derail the probe.

The Mumbai police chief had also clarified on Monday that no party was held at the actor’s apartment a day before he died and that CCTV footage showed that no prominent politician had visited the building in which the actor lived.

The slanging match over the handling of the probe into Sushant’s death peaked after Bihar police sent a team to Mumbai but was denied access to case papers. A senior IPS officer from Patna was kept in quarantine. The action brought reactions including from former CM Devendra Fadnavis’ wife Amruta who said on Twitter that she was “feeling unsafe in Maharashtra”.

Earlier in the day, Anil Parab, minister for transport, alleged the opposition had hatched a conspiracy to malign Aaditya’s image by linking his name to the Sushant case. Parab said, “These are old tricks… attempts were also made to malign PM Narendra Modi’s image… allegations were levelled against union home minister Amit Shah in the judge BH Loya case. However, finally they came out clean.”