Probe against Sena gets nod

The Bhoiwada court on Wednesday granted permission to the Shivaji Park police to conduct an enquiry against Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally under the Environment Protection Act for allegedly flouting noise pollution rules.

The Bhoiwada court on Wednesday granted permission to the Shivaji Park police to conduct an enquiry against Shiv Sena’s Dussehra rally under the Environment Protection Act for allegedly flouting noise pollution rules.

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Though last week, the Bombay High Court allowed Shiv Sena to hold its rally, but had asked them to abide by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2001, which prescribes noise level of 50 decibles, the police said the noise limit had exceeded the permissible levels.

Later, the police registered a case under the Bombay Police Act against Milind Bodkar, (organiser of the rally), Anil Parab and Milind Parab (both of them had approached the Bombay High Court seeking permission to conduct the rally).

The police said they registered a case on Sunday night after a team consisting members from the local police station and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) found that the noise levels were higher than the allowed limit.

The police sought permission from the Bhoiwada court to conduct an enquiry against the party activists under the Environment Protection Act. The Act provides for a punishment of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.

The Sena said it would fight the legal battle. “We are sure that we have not violated any law. We will fight the legal battle,” said party MP and executive editor of Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, Sanjay Raut. “We have already made our stand clear in Saamna’s editorial.”