Noted Marathi writer H M Marathe was booked by the police for promoting enmity between different groups in society following a complaint lodged by the Sambhaji Brigade yesterday.
The complaint was lodged by Santosh Shinde, district president of the Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha caste organisation that rose from obscurity after its violent protests against US writer James Laine’s book on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj some years ago.
Marathe, who is contesting the election for the post of president of the 86th chapter of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan to be held in Ratnagiri, was said to have mentioned the controversy over Laine’s book in a letter to voters.
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“In his letter to the voters, the writer unnecessarily mentioned the controversy about James Laine’s controversial book discussing the issue of who was Shivaji’s real father,” Shinde said. “It all appears to be a mischievous attempt to create enmity between groups in the Hindu community. We are objecting to Marathe’s candidature in the election. We will oppose him even if he is elected. We are also pressing the police to take appropriate legal action against the writer.”
PI Shrikant Navale of the Kothrud police station said: “We have filed a case against Marathe under Section 153 (1) (A) of the Indian Penal Code. wWe are studying the issue.”
Some time ago, Marathe had openly extended an apology for the contents of his letter. “I think now the issue should be over as I had clarified my stand,” he said.
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