NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut , who was convicted by a Mumbai court on Thursday in a defamation case filed by wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya , said he was not concerned about the punishment and remained defiant by saying that he has not said anything wrong.
Reacting to the judgment, Raut said, “You can give me as many days of punishment as you want; I have no issues with it (Aap jitne din ki saza do mujhe koi dikkat nahi hai)".
The court sentenced Raut to 15 days of simple imprisonment, but the sentence was suspended for 30 days, granting him bail and time to challenge the ruling in a higher court.
Raut had accused Medha Somaiya and her husband of involvement in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction.
Addressing reporters after the verdict, Raut said, "You can give me any amount of punishment, I have no problem. You read the court order, the court has not said that I have said anything wrong. The court has said that it is in public interest...No one has been punished."
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s house, Raut said, "This entire justice system has become 'Sanghi-fied'. Our Prime Minister goes to the Chief Justice's house to eat laddus. The whole country sees this. Where will people like us who fight get justice, we will get punishment" (Aap jitne din ki saza do mujhe koi dikkat nahi hai. Court ne yeh nahi kahan ki maine galat kahan hai. Court ne yeh public interest mein yeh order diya hai. Lekin woh jo nanga aadmi hai, uski biwi ko lagta hai ki uske mann ko vedna hui hai).
Raut further claimed he was being made a scapegoat and confirmed that he would appeal the judgment in a higher court. Earlier in the day, the court sentenced the Rajya Sabha MP to 15 days' simple imprisonment, but later suspended the sentence and granted him bail.
Meanwhile, Medha Somaiya expressed her satisfaction with the court's decision, stating, “I am very happy and satisfied because I did not do anything wrong, and he (Sanjay Raut) had just falsely accused me. The judiciary has proved us honest, and we got justice.”
The defamation case originates from Raut's statements in April 2022, where he accused the Somaiyas of financial misconduct. Medha Somaiya, a professor of Organic Chemistry at Ramnarian Ruia College in Matunga, filed the complaint, alleging that Raut’s statements were defamatory and had harmed her reputation. She also highlighted her contributions to over 25 charitable activities and her doctorate in slum development.
Medha’s lawyer, Vivekanand Gupta, in the court presented video clips and newspaper reports as evidence of Raut’s statements. The court found that the evidence prima facie proved the defamatory nature of the remarks and imposed a Rs 25,000 fine on Raut as compensation to the complainant.
Raut, who is also the executive editor of Saamana and a former chief spokesperson of Shiv Sena, is expected to move the sessions court to challenge the conviction.
Reacting to the judgment, Raut said, “You can give me as many days of punishment as you want; I have no issues with it (Aap jitne din ki saza do mujhe koi dikkat nahi hai)".
The court sentenced Raut to 15 days of simple imprisonment, but the sentence was suspended for 30 days, granting him bail and time to challenge the ruling in a higher court.
Raut had accused Medha Somaiya and her husband of involvement in a Rs 100 crore scam related to the construction and maintenance of public toilets under the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction.
Addressing reporters after the verdict, Raut said, "You can give me any amount of punishment, I have no problem. You read the court order, the court has not said that I have said anything wrong. The court has said that it is in public interest...No one has been punished."
Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s house, Raut said, "This entire justice system has become 'Sanghi-fied'. Our Prime Minister goes to the Chief Justice's house to eat laddus. The whole country sees this. Where will people like us who fight get justice, we will get punishment" (Aap jitne din ki saza do mujhe koi dikkat nahi hai. Court ne yeh nahi kahan ki maine galat kahan hai. Court ne yeh public interest mein yeh order diya hai. Lekin woh jo nanga aadmi hai, uski biwi ko lagta hai ki uske mann ko vedna hui hai).
#WATCH | Mumbai: On his conviction, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut says "You can give me any amount of punishment, I have no problem. You read the court order, the court has not said that I have said anything wrong. The court has said that it is in public interest...No one has… pic.twitter.com/xC67FFpNJk
— ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2024
Raut further claimed he was being made a scapegoat and confirmed that he would appeal the judgment in a higher court. Earlier in the day, the court sentenced the Rajya Sabha MP to 15 days' simple imprisonment, but later suspended the sentence and granted him bail.
Meanwhile, Medha Somaiya expressed her satisfaction with the court's decision, stating, “I am very happy and satisfied because I did not do anything wrong, and he (Sanjay Raut) had just falsely accused me. The judiciary has proved us honest, and we got justice.”
The defamation case originates from Raut's statements in April 2022, where he accused the Somaiyas of financial misconduct. Medha Somaiya, a professor of Organic Chemistry at Ramnarian Ruia College in Matunga, filed the complaint, alleging that Raut’s statements were defamatory and had harmed her reputation. She also highlighted her contributions to over 25 charitable activities and her doctorate in slum development.
VIDEO | "I am very happy and satisfied because I did not do anything wrong and he (Sanjay Raut) had just falsely accused me. The judiciary has proved us honest and we got justice," says BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya on Mumbai court sentencing Shiv Sena (UBT) MP… pic.twitter.com/bRnAmsPcse
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 26, 2024
Medha’s lawyer, Vivekanand Gupta, in the court presented video clips and newspaper reports as evidence of Raut’s statements. The court found that the evidence prima facie proved the defamatory nature of the remarks and imposed a Rs 25,000 fine on Raut as compensation to the complainant.
Raut, who is also the executive editor of Saamana and a former chief spokesperson of Shiv Sena, is expected to move the sessions court to challenge the conviction.
