Cases Count Too Little Against Raj Thackerey

Raj Thackerey, it seems has become the new obsession of media and police and administration.

PTI has reported that Raj Thackeray. chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is facing as many as 73 criminal cases in various courts all over Maharashtra for allegedly inciting riots which broke out after his arrest in connection with anti-North Indian tirade launched by his party in 2008, police said.

Of the 73 cases, Raj has appeared in six cases and secured bail. In the rest of the cases he has yet to appear in person and get bail, the report quotes.

As the cases are still in the court of law, one can not authoritatively comment on them. But there seems no reason to believe that these cases will cause any damage to his political career. Foremost of all, he is not going to contest a election so he is unlikely to lose something. His erstwhile mentor and inspiration Balasaheb Thackerey, the Shive Sena chief forfeited his right to vote for six years but commands the same authority over his party. Raj can do the same.

The cases, in truly Maharashtra police fashion, are built on some distant relations. Raj can claim he had not directly incited the crowd and whatever happened was a legitimate reaction from his angry followers. If only, the count of cases only provides a relief to the rival parties, which unfortunately includes mediamen.