The Jharkhand high court on Thursdaytoday directed the state government not to take any coercive step, including arrest warrant against former Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray till further order in connection with his derogatory remarks against Biharis residing in Maharastra.

Justice D G R Patnaik passed the order while hearing a criminal miscellaneous petition filed by Swaraj Thackeray alias Raj Thackeray for quashing the complaint petition filed by Sudhir Kumar Pappu, an advocate at Jamshedpur.

The court directed the complainant to file counter affidavit by July 17, 2007, regarding taking sanction from the state government.

Rajesh Kumar appearing on behalf of the petitioner, informed the court that Thackeray abused Biharis in his public speech delivered on March 9, 2006, adding Biharis were not safe in Maharashtra.

Two FIRs were lodged in Mumbai by former MP Sanjay Nirupam. The other complaint case was filed with the judicial magistrate of Jamshedpur on March 13, 2007, by Sudhir Kumar Pappu and Rajesh Kumar.

The court after taking cognizance issued summon against Raj Thackeray on April 19, 2007, and thereafter issued warrant of arrest on May 23, 2007.

Thackeray had filed a petition in the Supreme Court to transfer the case to Mumbai, but the apex court rejected the plea and directed him to appeal in the Jharkhand high court.

As Raj Thackeray was left with no option, he filed a petition before the Jharkhand high court.