Thane court grants pre-arrest bail to ex-MP Vinayak Raut, son and 3 family members

A sessions court in Maharashtras Thane has granted prearrest bail to former MP and Shiv Sena UBT leader Vinayak Raut his son Gitesh and three other family members in a case involving allegations of domestic violence and offences under the states antiblack magic lawThe case was registered following a complaint filed by Girija Raut the daughterinlaw of Vinayak Raut and wife of Gitesh Raut at the Kapurbawdi police station in ThaneDaughterinlaw alleges harassment and occult ritualsIn her complaint Girija alleged that she was subjected to severe physical and mental harassment marital misconduct and torture by her husband and inlaws She also alleged that she was forcibly made to participate in occult rituals and claimed that provisions of the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act 2013 were violatedThe complaint led to the registration of a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra antiblack magic lawThe allegations made in the complaint have not been established in court and the proceedings are at the investigation stageCourt grants anticipatory bail to five accusedAdditional Sessions Judge S P Agarwal on Friday allowed the anticipatory bail applications filed by Vinayak Raut Gitesh Raut Shamal Raut Surekha Rajesh Sarphare and Rajesh Narayan SarfareWhile considering the applications the court examined the allegations concerning the alleged superstitious rituals Judge Agarwal noted that the complainant had alleged that such rituals took place between 2018 and 2022 but had not lodged a complaint during those four yearsThe court also considered the nature of the allegations while determining whether custodial interrogation of the accused was necessaryCourt says allegations do not prima facie meet thresholdThe court observed that the allegations on a prima facie assessment did not satisfy the threshold for the severe prohibited Aghori practices covered under the Maharashtra AntiBlack Magic ActThe Act deals with practices involving human sacrifice and other inhuman evil and Aghori practices and black magic The court noted that the provisions relied upon in the case concern acts involving serious physical assault or bodily harmJudge Agarwal also took into account the absence of relevant prior criminal records for four of the applicants and the assessment that there was a low likelihood of the accused fleeing from justiceBased on these considerations the court held that custodial interrogation was not warranted at this stage and granted the applicants protection from arrestAccused released on Rs 25000 bond eachThe court directed that in the event of their arrest all five applicants be released on a personal bond of Rs 25000 each along with one or two sureties of the same amountThe bail order also imposed conditions on the accused to ensure their cooperation with the investigationGitesh Raut was directed to remain present at the Kapurbawdi police station every Friday between 7 pm and 8 pm until the investigating agency submits its final reportThe other accused were directed to appear before the investigating officer whenever their presence is requiredInvestigation to continueThe courts order provides the five accused protection from arrest while the investigation into the allegations continuesThe case stems from allegations made by Girija Raut against her husband and his family members The allegations include domestic harassment and alleged involvement in prohibited practices under the states antiblack magic legislationWith inputs from PTI