Mumbai, February 12:

Police were on alert and barricades put up on some roads here today as suspense continued over the probable arrests of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi.

“Anything is possible and police all over Maharashtra are prepared for the eventuality,” said a state home ministry official.

With both Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil away from the state capital, it was unclear when the arrests were likely to be executed.

Yesterday, Mumbai Police had filed suo motu complaints invoking non-bailable sections of the law against the two leaders. Fearing trouble, tight security was deployed around Raj Thackeray’s Shivaji Park residence in central Mumbai and Azmi’s Colaba home in south Mumbai.

Security forces were also on alert in certain other sensitive pockets of Mumbai where both parties are in strength.

Important roads near their homes have been barricaded since Monday evening and vehicles diverted, creating traffic snarls. Raj, nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, yesterday refused to accept a notice connected to the complaint against him lodged by Shivaji Park police.

The MNS’ ongoing tirade against outsiders, specifically north Indians settled in the city, has vitiated the political atmosphere in Maharashtra.

MNS and Samajwadi Party activists have clashed in several parts of the state and violence has continued unabated for 10 days.