FIR against MNS leader over political hoarding in Vashi

NAVI MUMBAI: An FIR has been lodged against the Navi Mumbai president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Haji Shahnawaz Khan, for displaying the party hoarding with the names and photographs of the MNS leaders in sector 11, Vashi.
The offence has been registered under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, for displaying the large hoarding without any legal permission and also due to the ongoing election code of conduct.
Reacting to the FIR, an angry Khan reacted: "This is an unfair police action against the MNS, since there are several other political banners still on display at various places in the city. However, only the MNS hoarding has been targeted, why? This particular hoarding was put up at our Navi Mumbai party office; it has now been covered with a cloth in sector 11."
Khan further added that he has readily gone to Vashi police station on learning about the FIR against him, but the investigating officer was reportedly not present at the time; hence, he was asked to come back to the police station later.
"MNS will certainly be fielding its candidates from the Navi Mumbai region for the forthcoming assembly elections. That is why the other opposition parties are feeling jittery and carrying out such actions against us, we will show them during the polls," Khan said.
However, the MNS chief Raj Thackeray has not yet finalised the candidates who will stand for the elections from Belapur and Airoli constituencies.
Earlier, both Cidco and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had issued directions that all political banners and hoardings must be removed on account of the election code of conduct.