The Samajwadi Party MLA, Rais Shaikh, has moved a private member bill, seeking penal provisions on the lines of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to stop defamation of eminent personalities.

A bill moved by an individual elected representative is called a private member bill. The opposition uses it as a legal weapon to introduce reforms or press for certain demands.

Shaikh, who represents the Bhiwandi East seat, has named the proposal as the Maharashtra Defamation of Revered Leaders and Iconic Figures (Prevention and Punishment) Bill, 2024. It aims to control the increasing incidents of defamation and objectionable comments against religious leaders, historical figures and national icons. The bill will be vetted before allowing the legislator to introduce it in the house.

Outlining the objective behind the proposal, Shaikh said in the bill’s draft that the idea is to curb the rising trend of whipping up sentiments by posting derogatory content against eminent personalities on social media. Such incidents have often led to public unrest, social tensions and violent protests in some cases, Shaikh added.

He pointed out that the existing sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are inadequate for punishing such offences hence a MCOCA-like law will help deter such miscreants.

The Worli police on Sunday arrested a 36-year-old man from Ajmer in connection with a conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The accused, Mohammad Beg Mirza, works as a turner in a company in Ajmer.

On Saturday, after consuming alcohol, Mirza went to work but was sent home by his employer. Frustrated and in an inebriated state, he typed a message threatening the life of Modi and sent it to the traffic police control number. Mirza included his employer’s name in the threat message.

On Saturday, at 2am, the Mumbai Police traffic control room received a message on its mobile number claiming a conspiracy to assassinate the PM. The message also claimed that certain individuals were planning bomb blasts in Mumbai and Dhanbad and conspiring to undermine the Indian Army. Additionally, it alleged that one of the suspects was working for the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI.

The message mentioned suspects involved in manufacturing illegal weapons in a company and attempting to harm the PM and the army. The message identified two individuals, Prince Khan and Irfan Razadia, claiming that one planned to carry out a bomb blast in Dhanbad and the other in Mumbai. It also included a mobile number linked to a person named Irfan.

Mumbai: The expansion of the Mahayuti cabinet, which was expected to take place on December 10 or 11, is unlikely. The exercise may take place on December 14 or 15, say sources from Mahayuti.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Ekanth Shinde and Ajit Pawar have not yet met to sort out the allocations. The meeting is also unlikely on December 12 as Fadnavis has a busy schedule in Nagpur.

Meanwhile, the issue of seeking report cards from the minister aspirants has become a talking point in the political circle. Reports say that the names of heavyweights like Sanjay Rathod and Abdul Sattar were nixed.