Sanjay Raut acquitted in defamation case filed by Kirit Somaiya's wife
India Today
The court held it cannot be proved that the alleged defamatory news article was published on the instructions of Raut. As executive editor of 'Saamana', Raut could not be held legally liable for every news item published, the court observed.
A sessions court here on Thursday acquitted Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya.
Overturning a magistrate's ruling, Additional Sessions Judge Mahesh Jadhav held it cannot be proved that the alleged defamatory news article was published on the instructions of Raut. As executive editor of 'Saamana', Raut could not be held legally liable for every news item published, the court observed.
Medha Somaiya had claimed that Raut, a Rajya Sabha member, made baseless and completely defamatory allegations in the media against her and her husband, accusing them of being involved in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction of public toilets in Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation area.
On September 26 last year, a judicial magistrate held Raut guilty of defamation under Indian Penal Code section 500. Besides sentencing him to 15 days in jail, the court had also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000.
The Sena (UBT) leader later filed an appeal before the sessions court for cases against MPs and MLAs, challenging the magistrate's ruling.
During the final arguments earlier this month, Raut's lawyer Manoj Pingale said the articles in question did not defame anybody.
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