MUMBAI, July 23: The Ramesh Kini death case resurfaced in the state legislative council today with opposition members demanding immediate arrest of the Shiv Sena youth leader, Raj Thackeray.

On this day, last year Ramesh Kini was found dead in a cinema hall in Pune. The issue took a political turn when his wife, Sheila Kini, held Raj Thackeray responsible for the death of her husband. Initially, the government had ordered a CID enquiry, but later the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation, which has yet to frame any chargesheet in the case.

The opposition members came prepared to protest wearing black badges and raised the issue as soon as the council assembled this morning. They asked for suspension of the question hour to discuss what they claimed was the government's inaction in pinning down the culprits. When their demand was rejected, the opposition members created a noisy scene. They also displayed a banner that reminded the completion of one year of Kini's death under mysterious circumstances.

Later, they calmed down and the council bade farewell to eight members, including Sena leader Sudhir Joshi, who had completed their six-year term in the upper house.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.