In a defamation case brought by professor Medha Kirit Somaiya, the wife of BJP politician Kirit Somaiya, a magistrate’s court on Thursday found MP Sanjay Raut guilty and sentenced him to 15 days simple jail.
According to Vivekanand Gupta, Medha’s attorney, the accused must pay back the Rs. 25,000 fine.
Medha’s allegation stated Sanjay Raut is the executive editor of the Marathi newspaper “SAMNA” and the main spokesman for the Shiv Sena political party. She claimed that starting on April 15, 2022, he made defamatory and unfounded remarks against her, which were then reproduced, published, and disseminated across the general public via print and electronic media.
Vivekanand Gupta, Medha’s attorney, the accused must pay back the Rs. 25,000 fine.
According to Medha’s allegation, Sanjay Raut is the executive editor of the Marathi newspaper “SAMNA” and the main spokesman for the Shiv Sena political party.
Medha further stated in her petition that she taught organic chemistry at Ramnarian Ruia College in Matunga for more than 20 years. She went on to say that she has received a “Doctorate” in slum development and has participated in over 25 philanthropic endeavors. “She has an excellent reputation in the society and she is known in the educational and social field in the society,” the plea stated.
In a thorough judgment granting Sanjay Raut a summons in June 2022, the court determined that the complainant had “prima facie” proven that the accused Raut’s statements had damaged her reputation. “The documents and video clips produced on record prima facie revealed that the accused made defamatory statements against the complainant on April 15 and 16, 2022 so that it will be seen by public at large and read by the public in the newspapers,” Metropolitan Magistrate PI Mokashi had stated.
Raut entered a plea, and the court granted a 30-day sentence suspension. Bail was also granted to him. He’ll probably file a motion in sessions court to overturn the conviction.