The Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad bench has ordered Mohan Chavan, a Nanded resident, to pay Rs 2 lakh for filing a frivolous lawsuit against Uddhav Thackeray, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief. The court directed Chavan to personally deliver the amount via a demand draft to Thackeray, marking a decisive stance against misuse of the legal system.
Chavan, who identifies himself as a doctor of philosophy and a member of the Banjara community, alleged that Thackeray hurt his religious sentiments by not applying sacred ash (vibhuti) given during a function. This plea was harshly criticized by Justice S G Mehare, who described the lawsuit as an “abuse of the process of law” and an attempt to gain celebrity status through the courts.
The single bench highlighted that such petitions not only damage the reputation of respected societal members but are often motivated by ulterior objectives. The court’s ruling emphasized that the allegations against Thackeray were unfounded and merited the imposition of a heavy fine on Chavan for abusing legal processes.
Under the court’s order, Chavan is required to procure a demand draft in Thackeray’s name and personally hand it over to him or his designated representative within three weeks. Failure to comply with this directive could result in more severe consequences, as warned by the court.
Chavan’s legal journey began with a private complaint against Thackeray in a magistrate’s court in Nanded, which was dismissed. Persisting, Chavan appealed to a sessions court, and upon facing another rejection, escalated his grievance to the High Court. Both lower courts supported their dismissals by questioning the credibility of the complaint, a sentiment echoed in Justice Mehare’s scathing remarks.
