Politics

Aaditya and Amit Thackeray Booked After Sit‑In Demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s Removal

By Vinay Dalvi

Mumbai police booked Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray on Monday, a day after they led a sit‑in demanding the removal of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The two parties announced another agitation for Monday at 4 p.m. On Sunday, police denied permission for a demonstration as the Cockroach Janata Party called for a “farewell party” for Kumar. At least 300 people were detained before Amit Thackeray arrived, stopped a police van carrying protesters, and ensured they disembarked before he was detained. His cousins, Aaditya and Tejas Thackeray, rushed to Shivaji Park and led the sit‑in outside Shiv Sena Bhavan. Around 1,000 MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers joined them, catching police off guard. A police officer said the Thackerays and at least 25 others were booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, section 189 (unlawful assembly), and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act. Aaditya Thackeray said the agitation against Kumar would continue on Monday, claiming the protest was against dictatorship and attempts to suppress dissent. He said the action against protesters at August Kranti Maidan and Shivaji Park was unexpected from Mumbai police, comparing their conduct to Delhi police and suggesting political influence. He also noted that Tushar Gandhi, the great‑grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was detained and released hours later after protests. Thackeray maintained that the protest was not political but aimed at supporting citizens concerned about the electoral system, describing it as a fight against “traitor Gyanesh Kumar” and stating it would continue until Kumar resigns.