A local court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray for his alleged provocative statement against Bihari community two months ago.

The arrest warrant was issued by first class judicial magistrate D C Awasthi after Thackeray failed to appear before the court in connection with the case.

Sudhir Kumar Pappu, an advocate, said in his petition that Thackeray's statement against non-Maharashtrians, particularly the Biharis, was not only objectionable but also a deliberate attempt to flare up regionalism and casteism in the country.

Pappu is also the spokesman of RJD's East Singhbhum district committee.

Earlier a summon was issued against Thackeray at his Mumbai residence by the court on April 19.

The petition was filed in the court of chief judicial magistrate, P K Moitra in March and the case was transferred to the court of the first class judicial magistrate later.

Apart from the legal action initiated against Thackeray, RJD alongwith other organisations had torched the effigy of Thackeray in Bihar and Jharkhand for his alleged remarks against the community living in Mumbai.