Mumbai: Sunil Raut held for attacking Marathi channel

Shiv Sena [ Images ] activist Sunil Raut was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly masterminding the attack on the office of Marathi news channel IBN-Lokmat in Mumbai [ Images ], the police said.

"Sunil Raut surrendered before the police following which he has been arrested. He is suspected to have masterminded the attack," Deputy Police Commissioner R M Vatkar said.

On November 20, a group of alleged Shiv Sainiks ransacked the office of IBN-Lokmat in suburban Mumbai and beat up the staff members, accusing the channel of giving reports that showed party chief Bal Thackeray [ Images ] in bad light .

With Raut's arrest, the number of persons apprehended in the case has gone up to 18. Raut, who unsuccessfully contested last month's Assembly election from Bhandup in the city, is the brother of Sanjay Raut, Sena's Rajya Sabha MP, who is also executive editor of party mouthpiece Saamna.

Those arrested earlier have been booked for attempt to murder and rioting among other charges.