A court in Jharkhand has issued notice to Maharashtra police to attach the properties of Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), if he fails to appear before it by April 2.

The notice was issued to Maharashtra police by Judicial Magistrate Anil Kumar in Jamshedpur district while hearing a petition on Tuesday that accuses Thackeray of hurting the sentiments of north Indians.

The same court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Thackeray Dec 18. The MNS chief failed to appear in court despite a warrant pending against him.

On February 14, Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi had given his approval to prosecuting Raj Thackeray.

Thackeray last year spearheaded a movement against north Indians in Maharashtra, which led to violence by his followers. This case relates to a petition filed by lawyer Sudhir Kumar Pappu.