The Rajya Sabha MP personally appeared before the court to seek bail, which was granted upon furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000.
Mumbai: A Mumbai sessions court on Friday(25th Oct) granted bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut after he challenged his conviction in a the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Raut had moved a revision application before the sessions court, contesting the 15-day jail sentence handed down by a magistrate’s court.
The Rajya Sabha MP personally appeared before the court to seek bail, which was granted upon furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000.
On September 26, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Aarti Kulkarni had found Raut guilty of defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to 15 days of imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs 25,000. The sentence, however, was suspended for 30 days to allow him to file an appeal.
Somaiya’s complaint alleged that Raut made unfounded and entirely defamatory accusations against her and her husband, claiming they were involved in a Rs100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction.
“The statements made by the accused to the media are inherently defamatory. These remarks were intended to tarnish my reputation in the eyes of the public,”
the complaint asserted.
According to section 499 of IPC, whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.
Section 499 also cites exceptions. These include “imputation of truth” which is required for the “public good” and thus has to be published, on the public conduct of government officials, the conduct of any person touching any public question and merits of the public performance.
Raut’s revision plea argued that the magistrate’s verdict was “flawed in law and factually incorrect.”
Medha Somaiya had accused Raut of making unsubstantiated and defamatory remarks in the media, alleging her and her husband’s involvement in a Rs 100 crore scam linked to the construction of public toilets in Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation.
“We did not oppose his bail since he appeared in person, following which the court granted it,”
said advocate Laxman Kanal, representing Somaiya.
