Maharashtra: The Umerkhed police of Yavatmal district have registered an FIR against Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson and editor of the party organ ‘Saamna,’ accusing him of sedition for allegedly writing an objectionable article against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the party’s mouthpiece Saamana.
The complaint was lodged by Nitin Bhutada, BJP’s Yavatmal district coordinator. Based on his complaint, a case has been registered under Sections 124 (A) (sedition), 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 153 A of the IPC is a cognisable offence which entails three years imprisonment; section 505 2 is non-cognisable and section 124 A is a cognisable offence with provision for life imprisonment.
Complainant Told FPJ Why He Filed Case
Bhutda told FPJ on Tuesday that he was shocked by the nature of allegations levelled by Raut against PM Modi in an editorial in the December 10, 2023, of ‘Saamna’ on the outcome of the recent elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
The FIR, of which FPJ has a copy, has alleged that Raut had gone to the extent of suggesting a tacit understanding between Modi and Pakistan in the run up to the 2024 elections to the Lok Sabha. Bhutda said Raut had also levelled several other allegations against Modi.
The BJP leader had filed a written complaint on December 11 and the FIR was registered the same day. The BJP-led Maha Yuti government is, predictably, taking the ‘Saamna’ editorial seriously. The police are likely to summon Raut to Yavatmal to record his statement and take further action against him.
Sanjay Raut Arrested By ED In Nov 2022
In November last year, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, who had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged money laundering case, was released with the court coming down heavily on the agency. The verdict gave a huge boost to Raut who has been firing fusillades at the BJP government at the Centre and the state almost daily.
Raut enjoys the full backing of the Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, who shares an extremely bitter relationship with the BJP, especially after the latter pulled down the MVA government helmed by him by encouraging defections.
