Swift Bail For 7 Workers From Raj Thackeray's MNS In Marathi Slapgate Row

Seven members of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena - who assaulted a Mumbai shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi, filmed their brutal attack, and shared it online - were released within hours of being detained yesterday evening, sources told NDTV Friday morning.

Maharashtra minister Nitish Rane confirmed their 'arrest' in a brief interview with NDTV.

But minutes after he spoke it emerged the seven men had never actually been arrested; they had only been detained and interrogated, their statements recorded, and then released.

Mr Rane spoke to NDTV again and seemed uncertain before stating the men will, in fact, be arrested. "Arrest will get done soon... Chief Minister (Devendra Fadnavis) is also looking into it," he claimed, "Marathi should be spoken. No compromises... but nobody should take the law into their hand."

Police sources told NDTV the seven had been released on bail bonds since the charges against them are of a lenient nature, and hold a maximum punishment of less than seven years.

They can now only be arrested if the charges are amended to include more stringent ones.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Prakash Gaikwad earlier told NDTV the assault on the Mumbai shopkeepre, as seen in the video shared online, is clearly a cognisable offence.

The assault took place late Sunday.

MNS 'Slapgate' Incident

The shopkeeper, 48-year-old Babulal Chaudhary, who runs the 'Jodhpur Sweet Shop' in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb, was slapped and threatened by the seven MNS thugs because his staff member, Mr Bagharam, who is from Rajasthan, spoke to the men in Hindi.

The thugs demanded Mr Chaudhary and Mr Bagharam speak in Marathi, to which the shopkeeper pointed out, quite correctly, that all languages are spoken in the state.

The MNS goons filmed their assault and even posted it online.

NDTV identified four of the men in the attack but a police case was filed only two days later. It would be another 24 hours before the police summoned the thugs from Raj Thackeray's party.

The assault triggered widespread outrage, particularly since it came as Raj Thackeray and his estranged cousin, Shiv Sena (UBT) boss Uddhav Thackeray, have been claiming credit for forcing the Maharashtra government to backtrack in the 'Hindi imposition' row.

MNS, Maha Government Shocker

Predictably, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena refused to apologise for the assault; the party's Mumbai unit chief, Sandeep Deshpande, told reporters Mr Chaudhary had 'insulted' Marathi and said, "If there is an attempt to insult Marathi, we will respond. We won't tolerate it."

READ | 'If Raj Thackeray Is Criticised...': Amid Slap Row, MNS Goons' Warning

What was shocking was Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam's response; he said 'action will be taken' against anyone who 'disrespects Marathi', but made no mention of punishing the MNS hooligans. "Marathi will have to be spoken in Maharashtra..."

READ | 'Marathi Must Be Spoken...': Maha Minister On MNS Workers Slap Row

NDTV also spoke to Amol Patil, one of the goons who took part in the assault.

READ | "Will Go To Jail For Marathi": MNS Worker To NDTV After 'Slapgate'

He said Mr Chaudhary's 'attitude' had prompted the attack, and that he expected non-Marathi speakers in the state to 'behave' themselves, and learn the language to avoid being attacked.

Meanwhile, in a lukewarm and ambivalent response to the attack, senior opposition leader Aaditya Thackeray, who is Uddhav Thackeray's son, only said that Marathi "shouldn't be insulted".

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