Mumbai Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against yet to be identified suspect, hours after paint was thrown at Meenatai Thackeray`s statue at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of central Mumbai.

A senior police official said that a case has been filed under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 298, which deals with acts intended to hurt religious sentiments by spoken words or gestures against the suspect and further investigations in the matter were underway.

Sources said that the police was examining all aspects of the incident and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.

Police sources further said multiple teams have been formed to trace the culprits and the CCTV footage from the vicinity was being scanned to identify those responsible.

Tensions flared at Shivaji Park in Dadar after Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders and party workers discovered that the paint was thrown at the statue of Meenatai Thackeray, wife of the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray later reached the spot and spoke to party workers and leaders gathered at Shivaji Park.

The former Maharashtra CM also spoke to the police officials at the spot.

Apart from Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, MNS chief Raj Thackeray also visited Shivaji Park following the incident.

In view of the issue, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders who had gathered at the spot demanded the arrest of those involved in the defacement of the late Meenatai’s bust at Dadar.

According to sources, an onlooker first noticed the red paint around 6:30 am. Soon after, workers from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) arrived and began cleaning the site.

Speaking to reporters, Yogesh Kadam, Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home and Revenue, on Wednesday condemned the act, calling it an emotional issue for all Shiv Sainiks.

Yogesh Kadam, a leader of the Shiv Sena led by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, said that strict action would be taken against those found guilty. He also noted that his father, Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam, had the statue of Meenatai Thackeray commissioned at Shivaji Park on the instructions of late Bal Thackeray.

Source