Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut acquitted in defamation case filed by BJP leader’s wife, Mumbai court allows appeal

MUMBAI: A sessions court on Thursday allowed an appeal filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut acquitting him in a defamation case filed by professor Medha Somaiya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. In 2024, the magistrate had sentenced Raut to 15 days simple imprisonment sentence. The sentence was subsequently suspended for 30 days, and he was granted bail. Raut then filed an appeal through his advocate Manoj Pingale. Medha’s advocates, Vivekanand Gupta and Laxman Kanal said they would file an appeal in the Bombay high court. Finding him guilty on Sept 26, 2024 magistrate Aarti A Kulkarni said Raut made statements through media against Medha without due care and caution. "He, in spite of having knowledge that the complainant can be defamed, did not take due care and caution and made defamatory statements and published them." Raut's appeal against the magistrate’s order said reasons assigned and conclusions arrived at are not only bad in law and improper on facts but also not sustainable on principle of equality and good conscience. "Therefore, the impugned judgment of conviction and sentence is liable to be quashed and set aside," the plea said.

His plea said he respected Medha's profession as a professor, and did not have any personal grudges. In her complaint, Medha said Raut, Executive Editor of Sena (UBT)'s mouthpiece ‘Samna', made malicious and unwarranted statements against her on April 15, 2022, and later, which were printed, published, and circulated through electronic and print media. In his defence, Raut said the allegations were based on letters given by MLA Pratap Sarnaik and Corporator Pravin Patil and that he had the right to publish news related to illegal and corrupt activities.

The magistrate said mere correspondence and applications suggesting an enquiry didn't prove she committed any fraud or illegal activity.