Mumbai, Jan 17 (Mumbai Mirror) The Shiv Sena on Wednesday filed a protest petition before the Palghar Sessions Court, rejecting the closure report in the case against Palghar girls Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Shrinivasan and asked the court to take cognisance of their ‘offence’.

The petition also asked that summons be issued to the girls. Complainant Bhushan Sankhe filed the petition through counsel Kiran Gaikwad before VS Yadav, judicial magistrate first class, Palghar, on Wednesday, rejecting the closure report filed by the Boisar police.

The case had created a national uproar after Shaheen and her FB friend Rinu had been arrested for questioning on Facebook the shutdown of Mumbai and other areas during Thackeray's funeral.

Two officers, DSP Ravindra Sengaonkar of Thane Rural, and Palghar PI Shrikant Pingle, were suspended, and Judicial Magistrate R Bagade was also transferred. Divisional Superintendent of Police (Boisar Circle) Vijaykant Sagar, who is also the investigating officer in the case, had submitted a report on December 18 before the Palghar court, to close the case against Shaheen and Rinu, on the orders of DGP Sanjeev Dayal.

On December 22, the court issued a notice to Sankhe, asking him to respond on or before January 7. Sankhe, however, sought more time, and the court gave him time till January 16.

In his protest petition, Sankhe mentioned that the State Government acted in haste due to pressure from the Centre. He said the girl’s comments angered scores of people and that the Palghar police had rightly registered an FIR against the two women. The Palghar court has asked the state government to submit its reply on January 18, when the next hearing is scheduled.