FB case: Police decide to drop case against girls

In a relief to the two girls who were arrested over a Facebook post criticising shutdown during Bal Thackeray's funeral, Maharashtra Police has decided to drop the case against the duo.

In a relief to the two girls who were arrested over a Facebook post criticising shutdown during Bal Thackeray's funeral, Maharashtra Police has decided to drop the case against the duo.

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"No charge sheet will be filed in the case of arrest of two girls from Palghar. There will be a closure report," Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal said on Thursday.

The closure report in a case is usually filed by police before the court concerned when investigators conclude that no case is made out against the accused.

Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Shrinivasan, both 21, were arrested after Dhada had lamented in a Facebook post the November 18 shutdown due to Thackeray's funeral.

Shrinivasan had 'liked' the post. The two were later granted bail.

Though Dhada did not name Thackeray, a local Sena leader complained against the girls and police arrested the duo on November 19, sparking an outrage.

On November 20, police arrested the vandals who had damaged Shaheen's uncle's hospital on November 18, despite her removing the post and apologising that day itself.

Maharashtra government on Tuesday suspended the two police officers, SP (Thane rural) Ravindra Sengaonkar and senior police inspector Shrikant Pingle, for arresting the girls.

A bandh was observed at Palghar town in adjoining Thane district on Wednesday following a call by Shiv Sena against suspension of the two police officers.