Legal Victory for Raj Thackeray: Bombay High Court Dismisses Charges of Code of Conduct Violation

Mumbai, 10th November 2023: In a significant development, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed the case and charge sheet filed against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray about alleged violations of the code of conduct during the 2010 elections of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation. This ruling comes as a relief for Raj Thackeray.

The charges against Thackeray were related to his presence in the constituency beyond the permitted period during the elections of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation in 2010, leading to allegations of violating the election code of conduct. Following a show-cause notice from the Maharashtra State Election Commission, the police had filed a case and charge sheet against Thackeray, prompting him to approach the Bombay High Court for the quashing of the charges.

The bench, comprising Justice Ajay Gadkari and Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, delivered the verdict on Friday, accepting Raj Thackeray’s plea and quashing the case and charge sheet against him. The ruling brings a legal resolution to the allegations that had been pending for some time.

Notably, the Maharashtra State Election Commission had issued a notice to Raj Thackeray under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as political leaders are prohibited from being in the polling area 48 hours before the election, according to the law.