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Assault charges cannot be filed against erring MNS MLAs, as police have no jurisdiction inside state Assembly hall
Slapping and physically assaulting someone can lead to arrest and six months of imprisonment under sections 324 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
However, the four MNS MLAs who slapped fellow MLA Abu Azmi will escape these charges only because the incident took place inside the state Assembly.
The police have no jurisdiction inside the Assembly hall, a fact confirmed by Additional Commissioner of Police (south) R K Padmanabhan.
8 arrested
The police are now taking action where they can and beefed up security last evening after Samajwadi Party workers created a ruckus in places like Mumbra and Bhiwandi.
All senior inspectors of the city's 86 police stations have been asked to remain on round-the-clock duty.
Patrolling has been intensified and anti-riot police have been positioned at Lalbaug, Dadar, Parel, Colaba, Ghatkopar, Andheri and Bandra areas where the police believe SP and MNS supporters are likely to clash.
"We have also detained eight people as a precautionary measure," said Padmanabhan. While SP has a strong base in Colaba and south Mumbai, MNS supporters are active from Dadar to Borivli and in Thane.
Sena's Answer
After slapgate, Shiv Sena activists put up notice boards across the city criticising MNS MLAs for planning the attack inside the Assembly. | 
