In a major relief for Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, Bombay High Court on Tuesday quashed a 2008 case registered against him for delivering a speech against north-Indians which allegedly led to violence in the city.

Raj had been accused of promoting enmity between two groups, under sections 117, 151 and 153 (a) of the Indian Penal Code. He had been arrested by suburban Vikhroli police and released on bail the same day.

Raj had approached the High Court, seeking that the case be quashed, as the police had not taken the mandatory sanction from the state government before initiating action.

Accepting the arguments of Thackeray's lawyers Rajendra Shirodkar and Shayaji Nangare, the division bench of Justices VM Kanade and PD Kode today set aside the FIR.