Defamation Case: “Raut Didn’t Take Care & Caution, Caused Complainant Agony”- Mumbai Court

A Mumbai court has convicted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife, Medha Somaiya.

The court ruled that Raut, as a Member of Parliament, failed to exercise the “care and caution” expected of someone in his position when making certain statements.

Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Aarti Kulkarni found Raut guilty of defamation under IPC Section 500 last week, sentencing him to 15 days in jail and imposing a fine of ₹25,000. However, the sentence was suspended for one month, allowing Raut to appeal the decision in a higher court.

In the detailed order made public on Thursday, the court emphasized that Medha Somaiya is a highly qualified and respected individual whose reputation was significantly harmed by Raut’s statements. The court noted, “She has suffered mental agony” due to the defamatory remarks.

As an MP, Raut holds a high degree of responsibility when expressing himself publicly. The court stated, “The accused made statements through the media against the complainant without due care and caution.” It pointed out that Raut, despite knowing the potential for defamation, chose not to exercise the necessary diligence and published his statements.

The magistrate concluded that granting probation to Raut would not be appropriate under the circumstances. Regarding the punishment, the court determined that given the mental distress Medha Somaiya endured as a result of Raut’s statements, a sentence of simple imprisonment for 15 days and a fine of ₹25,000 were just and appropriate.

Medha Somaiya’s complaint, filed through her advocate Vivekanand Gupta in 2022, alleged that Raut made baseless and defamatory claims against her and her husband, accusing them of involvement in a ₹100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets in the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation area.

She contended that these statements were disseminated widely through electronic and print media, as well as social media platforms.

Her plea asserted that the remarks made by Raut were inherently defamatory and intended to “malign my character in the eyes of the general public.” The court’s ruling highlights the importance of accountability for public figures in their public statements, especially regarding serious allegations that can damage reputations.

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