MH-LD RAJ-ED

Ahead of Raj-ED face off, party leaders taken into custody
    (Eds: adding details)
    Mumbai, Aug 22 (PTI) Mumbai police on Thursday imposed
section 144 of CrPC (banning unlawful assembly) outside the
Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in south Mumbai, where MNS
chief Raj Thackeray will be present in connection with a money
laundering probe.
    The move was taken apprehending law and order problem,
a police official said. "Raj has appealed his party workers
not to throng outside the ED office but we don't want to take
any chances," the official said.
    Thackeray will appear at the ED office in Ballard Pier
around 10.30 am for questioning in connection with the IL&FS
probe, the official said.
    Meanwhile, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, wearing a tee
shirt with "EDiot Hitler" emblazoned on it, was taken into
custody by police Thursday morning.
    We have imposed section 144 ofCriminal Procedure
Code under the jurisdiction of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg
Police Station, where the ED office is located," the official
said.
    Section 144 prohibits assembly of more than four
persons in an area where there is likelihood of breach of
peace and disturbance of public tranquility, he said.
    Thackeray has appealed the party workers not to
protest over the issue, there are possibilities of gathering
of supporters outside the ED office, the official said.
    Considering the crowd expected to be present outside
the ED office before the MNS chief reaches there,heavy police
force has been deployed outside the agency office, he said.
    "The area outside the ED office has been covered with
barricades from three sides of the building and there is just
one way to enter or exit," the official said.
    Police personnel have been deployed in Dadar area in
central Mumbai and other places where MNS has stronghold, to
maintain law and order, the official said.
    Mumbai police on Wednesday served notices to MNS
functionaries and several party workers under section 149 of
CrPC as a precautionary measure, he said. Section 149 pertains
to prevention of cognisable offences.
    The ED is probing alleged irregularities relating to
loans and equity investment worth over Rs 450 crore by IL&FS
in Kohinoor CTNL Infrastructure Company, which is developing
Kohinoor Square tower in Mumbai's Dadar area.
    Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Shiv Sena
leader Manohar Joshi's son Unmesh Joshi was also summoned by
the ED in this case. PTI DCVT
VT VT

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI feed.)