A Mumbai Sessions Court has acquitted Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut in a criminal defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. The court’s decision came after Raut challenged his conviction by a Magistrate’s Court last year.
Raut had accused Medha Somaiya of involvement in an alleged Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction of public toilets under the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation. This led to a legal battle as Somaiya vehemently denied the allegations, calling them false and defamatory.
Last year, a Magistrate Court found Raut guilty of defamation and sentenced him to 15 days of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000. However, the sentence was put on hold when Raut appealed to the Sessions Court.
Medha Somaiya, a professor at Mumbai’s Ruia College, claimed that Raut’s statements had tarnished her and her husband’s reputation. The couple had also lodged a complaint at the Mulund Police Station, asserting that the accusations were baseless and demanding legal action.
Raut defended his statements by stating they were based on official documents and raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the toilet construction project. He argued that the matter had been discussed in the Maharashtra Assembly. The Sessions Court’s decision to overturn the Magistrate Court’s ruling marks a significant legal victory for Raut in a case involving leaders from opposing political parties in Maharashtra.
