Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut faces legal action over Saamana article against PM Modi

Yavatmal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convener Nitin Bhutada filed the complaint against Raut for allegedly writing an offensive article on December 11. A case was launched under sections 153 (A), 505 (2) and 124 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Yavatmal (Maharashtra): Police in Maharashtra Monday registered an offence against senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for writing an allegedly objectionable article against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', an official said.

The complaint was filed against Rajya Sabha member Raut, who is the executive editor of the paper, by Yavatmal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) convener Nitin Bhutada, the official said. As per the complaint, Bhutada claimed Raut had written the article titled 'Has BJP really won?' against PM Modi in his weekly column 'Rokhthok' on December 11.

A case was registered against Raut under sections 153 (A) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (2)(Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) and 124 (A) (Sedition.--Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Umarkhed police station for promoting enmity between different groups and other offences, the official confirmed.

“We have registered the case as per the complaint and will conduct a probe into it,” he said. Raut, in his statement, said, “A case has been registered against me because I spoke against the Prime Minister. There is still democracy in the country.”