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A Mumbai Sessions Court on Tuesday allowed the bail application filed by Member of Parliament Navneet Rana, and her husband Member of Legislative Assembly Ravi Rana, who are in judicial custody in a sedition case registered against them in relation to the Hanuman Chalisa row.

Special Judge RN Rokade stated that bail will be granted to the couple upon furnishing a bail bond of ₹50,000 each. The judge added that Ranas are not to engage with the media. The couple has also been directed not to engage in similar offences.

As for attendance, the Court directed Mumbai Police to give a 24-hour notice before summoning Ranas.

On April 23, 2022, the couple was arrested by the Mumbai police after they ‘threatened’ to recite the ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s private residence.

According to the FIR, the couple was booked under sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 135 of the Mumbai Police Act (violation of prohibitory orders of police). Later, the police also added section 124-A (sedition) against them.

The couple was remanded to 14-day judicial custody on April 25, 2022, by a Special Metropolitan Magistrate for MPs and MLAs at Sewree, Mumbai.

On April 25, the Bombay High Court refused to quash the FIR in the case stating that the court was unable accept submissions of their Counsel, Mr. Merchant.