Shashwati Chowdhury
Published on: August 19, 2022 at 19:10 IST
In a defamation case brought by the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena, who is now in jail, pleaded “not guilty” on Thursday.
The Enforcement Directorate is looking into a money laundering case involving Raut, who was brought before a Mumbai court via video conference.
Following a request from Advocate Vivekanand Gupta, who is representing Somaiya, Metropolitan Magistrate PI Mokashi ordered prison officials to produce Raut at 12 o’clock.
It has now been adjourned until September 19.
After Raut accused the Somaiyas of a “Rs 100 crore toilet scam” in the Mira-Bhayandar neighbourhood, Medha Somaiya filed a private complaint in February of this year. The Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation’s finances for the building of restrooms under its jurisdiction, according to the Shiv Sena leader, were allegedly misappropriated by Medha through her non-profit organisation, Yuvak Pratishthan.
According to the complaint, Medha Somaiya has taught organic chemistry at Ruia College for more than 20 years. She is associated with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Raigad, and she also oversees the non-profit organisation Yuvak Pratishthan.
The Magistrate summoned Raut in June of this year under Section 204(a) of the CrPC.
The Judge stated,
“These documents and video clips produced on record prima facie reveals that the accused has made defamatory statements against the complainant on 15/04/2022 and 16/04/2022 so that they will be seen by the public at large and read by the public in newspapers.”
The court stated in its order that Somaiya had sent links to the allegedly defamatory YouTube channel content. Additionally, she had provided videos on a pen drive that were accompanied by a certificate issued in accordance with Section 658 of the Indian Evidence Act.
The court has now been urged by Somaiya to file a defamation case against Raut under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.