Court exempts Raj from appearance due to Thackeray's ailment

Raj Thackeray had earlier been ordered to appear before the court today in a host of complaint for his alleged remarks against Bihar natives.

"Exemption application has been moved by applicant accused Raj Thackeray stating that his uncle Bal Thackeray is in critical condition at Mumbai and therefore he is unable to attend the court. In view of the ground, the applicant is exempted," said Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Manish Yaduvanshi.

Thackeray was summoned by the court on September 28 in two cases transferred to the capital from Bihar and Jharkhand by the Supreme Court.

One of the cases in which Thackeray was given exemption was lodged by one Raju Malik, who had complained that he was on board the Howrah-Mumbai mail on October 19, 2008 when MNS workers reached there and began raising scary slogans against Bihar natives, making him rush back home out of fear.

Another case in which the MNS chief was exempted from personal appearance was initiated by advocate Murad Ali against the alleged attack by MNS supporters on north Indian students, specially those from Bihar, during their examinations in Mumbai on October 20, 2008 for jobs in Indian Railways.

The case was transferred by the apex court to Delhi from a court in Bettiah, Bihar.