Recently, the Maharashtra sessions court granted anticipatory bail to Marathi rapper Rajesh Mungase, saying his physical custody was not required for the probe in connection with an alleged defamatory rap against the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government.

Earlier, Mungase was granted interim relief from arrest that was extended multiple times. 

“The video is already available on social media and hence, for the recovery of the same, there is no need of physical custody of the applicant (Mungase). Therefore, I do not find that physical custody of the applicant would serve any purpose. Applicant can be directed to attend police station and to cooperate with investigation,” Additional Sessions Judge R G Waghmade said in the order passed on July 20.

Case Brief -

He was booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 501 (Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 504 (intentional insult with the intention to provoke), and 505(2) (statements conducting public mischief with intent to incite).

During the proceedings of his anticipatory bail plea, Mungase’s lawyer, Shubham Kahite, had said the rap did not name anyone and was not intended to target or defame any specific persons or party. “It is submitted that applicant (Mungase), through the means of the present alleged video, has raised his voice against the injustice meted out to the common people and has not targeted any person specifically and further, it was an exercise through which the applicant was raising pertinent social issues and said FIR has been filed with (the) sole intention to stifle the voice of upcoming rap song who speak against the government,” the anticipatory bail plea filed in April said.

The police had opposed the plea stating that the rap song was objectionable and could affect law and order in the state.