Mumbai court acquits Sanjay Raut in defamation case filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's wife

A Mumbai sessions court on Thursday acquitted Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya reported PTIThe court allowed Rautrsquos revision application effectively setting aside a magistrate courtrsquos earlier order that had convicted him and sentenced him to 15 days in jailMumbai Maharashtra On the Sessions Court acquitting him in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut says I am relieved The lower court had given me a 15day punishment There had been a scam in the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation and Ihellip pictwittercomMxctH04vMhmdash IANS ians_india February 26 2026The detailed judgment is yet to be made availableCase stemmed from allegations of Rs 100 crore scamThe defamation case was filed after Raut allegedly made statements in the media accusing Medha Somaiya and her husband of involvement in an alleged Rs 100 crore scam linked to the construction of public toilets in the MiraBhayander Municipal Corporation area reported PTIMedha Somaiya had approached the court claiming that the allegations were baseless and had caused reputational damage to her and her familyRaut challenged lower court verdictFollowing his conviction last year by a magistrate court Raut moved the sessions court challenging the ruling and seeking relief His plea argued against the findings of the lower court and questioned the basis of the conviction reported PTIAfter hearing arguments from both sides the sessions court ruled in Rautrsquos favour granting him relief from the earlier sentencePolitical reactions likely as details awaitedThe acquittal is expected to trigger political reactions given the highprofile nature of the case involving leaders from rival political partiesWhile the detailed order is awaited the ruling marks a significant legal development for Raut who had maintained that the allegations against him in the case were unfoundedRaut accuses Fadnavis of using corruption cases to assert control over ministersMeanwhile days after a bribery case surfaced in a Maharashtra ministers office Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut on Monday claimed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis initiates action against ministers and later gives them a clean chit to maintain control reported PTISpeaking to reporters Raut also alleged that all ministers in the state government were involved in corruption and though the AntiCorruption Bureau was keeping a close watch on them it would not act until Fadnavis gave directionsHe called Fadnavis a hypocrite when it comes to taking action against corruption Citing the recent ACB raid on an official in minister Narhari Zirwals department in connection with bribery Raut alleged that Fadnavis initiates action against ministers gets raids conducted on them and later gives them a clean chit to keep them under his controlWith inputs from PTI