The Maharashtra state government informed the Bombay high court on June 27 that it would not arrest Marathi television actress Ketaki Chitale in 21 of the 22 FIRs filed against her over her sharing on social media an allegedly derogatory and defamatory post against NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Her quashing plea will be heard on July 12.
Ketaki was granted bail on June 22 by the Thane sessions court, more than a month after her May 14 arrest in an FIR filed at the Kalwa police station for her post. She is facing a total of 22 FIRs and four non-cognizable offences in the state over her social media post. The FIRs invoked section 153A of IPC for the offence of promoting enmity on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth and residence.
In the high court, Chitale’s advocate argued that in the remaining 21 FIRs, which were not maintainable, her arrest ought to be stayed. After seeking instructions from the DGP, the public prosecutor made the statement on not arresting the actress. The high court then posted her quashing plea for further hearing in July. Chitale had also sought orders from the high court to declare her arrest “illegal” and in “breach of law”.