India: Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut sentenced to 15 days in jail in defamation case

Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut has been sentenced to 15 days in jail by a Mumbai court in a defamation case filed byMedha Somaiya, wife of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya.

The metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai's Mazgaon convicted Raut under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code whilstalso imposing a fine of Rs 25,000 ($300) on him.

Raut reacts

Reacting to the news of the jail sentence, Raut said he was not surprised while insinuating that the country's judiciary was compromised.

“How can people like us who raise their voices against corruption and other irregularities get a justice in a country when prime minister of the country goes to chief justice’s house to have Modaks during Ganpati festival?” said Raut.

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What did Somaiya allege in the petition?

Medha Somaiya filed the petition against the senior Shiv Sena leader in 2022, accusing him of hurling baseless and defamatory allegations. Raut claimed that Medha and her husband were involved in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction andmaintenance of public toilets in Mira Bhayandar.

"I state that the accused Sanjay Raut is Executive Editor of Marathi Newspaper "SAAMNA" and is also the chief spokesman of Shiv Sena, a political party," Medha said in the initial complaint.

"I say that the accused around 16th April, 2022 and thereafter made malicious and unwarranted mischievous statements against me in the media, the same which was printed, published and circulated to the general public at large through electronic and print media. The said malicious statements were also viral on social media platforms," she added.

Medha had also sought an unconditional apology and a permanent injunction against Raut, restraining him from publishing, circulating, and printing material defamatory to her, in the future.

Kirit ka Kamal!

2013-14:
Kirit makes allegations agnst a company

2016:
Company Chief is probd by @dir_ed

2018-19:
Yuvak Pratishthan gets HUGE donation frm d Very SAME compny.

Aap Chronology samjhiye!

BTW,Isn't ths a case of ED & EOW invstgatn?

I wil file a complnt soon! pic.twitter.com/hpFMTaeUFG

Raut had alleged that the NGO run by the BJP leader received donations worth millions fromcompanies under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.

(With inputs from agencies)