Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: In what compounded into political war of words, Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was sentenced to a simple imprisonment of 15 days and a fine of Rs 25,000 in a defamation case filed Prof Medha Somaiya, the wife of BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP Dr Kirit Somaiya.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Aarti Kulkarni, who presides over a court in Mazagon Magistrate Court, convicted Raut for the offence under Section 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.
After the court passed its judgement, Raut's lawyer filed two pleas for suspension of the sentence and granting him bail, which the court allowed.
The sentence stands suspended for 30 days.
“We will challenge the order in the Mumbai Sessions Court,” Raut told reporters hours after the court order.
In April 2022, when the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power, Raut had alleged toilet scam of over Rs 100 crore linked to Somaiya and his family. Raut alleged that Yuva Pratishthan, a non-government organisation run by the Somaiya family was involved in the 100 crore toilet scam involving Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation in the Thane district.
Reacting to the order, the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have slammed Raut for what they described as a habit of making allegations before TV news channels every morning.
Advocate Vivekanand Gupta, who represented Prof Somaiya, had alleged that Raut made baseless and completely defamatory allegations against her and her husband.
“I am an ordinary housewife, engaged in social service and educational activities, but will fight anyone who tries to harm my family members. I am satisfied by the court’s verdict. It will prevent others from making such absurd allegations,” said Prof Somaiya.
In his defence, Raut said: “I had merely raised certain questions on the basis of certain official records raising doubts on the toilet construction issue, which was also endorsed by ruling Maha Yuti alliance leaders so where have I made any defamation".
“Raut is a fighter and he will continue to fight…we are not frightened,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
“This is a court order and everyone must accept it,” said BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule.