The Worli police on Saturday morning arrested five activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) for vandalising the office of Sushil Kedia, a high-profile investor and mentor, in Worli. Soon after the attack, Kedia put out a video in which he would be seen apologising with folded hands. The MNS cadres were protesting against Kedia's X post in which he said he refused to learn Marathi despite being in Mumbai for 30 years. He also challenged MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
Incensed over these remarks, a group of MNS workers descended on Kedia's office in We Work building on Annie Besant Road, not far from Worli police station, with the party scarfs tied around the necks and hurled coconuts on the glass door at the entrance even as they chanted slogans. Two security guards, one of whom was from the state government owned Maharashtra Security Corporation, tried to stop them, but in vain. The staff inside the office quickly downed the automatic shutter and prevented further damage. Kedia had received threats from MNS leaders on Friday night and had sought police protection. However, before the police could be deployed the office was vandalised at 10.30 a.m. The Worli police arrived on the scene and placed the five men under arrest. The incident occurred before the mega rally of Raj and Uddhav Thackeray at the Dome in Worli. A video of the vandalism went viral.
On July 3, Kedia posted on X (formerly Twitter) and tagged Raj Thackeray, writing: “Do note I do not know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai, and with your gross misconduct, I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi manus, I take a pratigya (pledge) that I will not learn Marathi. Kay karna hai bol?” He subsequently went to the Mumbai police, citing threats over his post.
Meanwhile, after the attack at his office, Kedia released a four-minute video with the caption: “I request Raj Thackeray ji to consider my humble submission.” In the video, he stated, “My tweet happened in a wrong state of mind, under duress and stress, and now it is being manipulated and misinterpreted to suit the interests of those who want to gain from any controversy. Having come under mental pressure from the violence inflicted on those who do not know Marathi, I ended up overreacting. I realise I must take back my overreaction…”
He further posted, “I overreacted. I must withdraw,” adding that when there is an atmosphere of fear, it naturally creates hesitation and the risk of things being blown out of proportion. In his post, he expressed hope that there would be encouragement rather than fear when it comes to learning the Marathi language and overcoming hesitation in achieving fluency.
After some incidents of people getting thrashed over non-use of Marathi triggered by the controversy linked to the "imposition" of Hindi and the three-language policy in state schools, Kedia had expressed his anger through a social media post targeting Raj Thackeray.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday condemned the recent assaults on non-Marathi speakers and warned that hooliganism in the name of language would not be tolerated.
Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Fadnavis said, “It is not wrong to take pride in the Marathi language in Maharashtra. However, we will not tolerate anyone resorting to hooliganism over language issues. Violence against people based on their language is completely unacceptable.”
The Worli police on Saturday registered an FIR against MNS workers under sections of 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 189 (2), 189(3) (unlawful assembly), 190 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 191 (2), 191 (3) (rioting), 125 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 324 (4), 324 (5) (mischief) of the Bharatiya Nayya Sanhita along with relevant sections of the Maharashtra police act.
