Team Uddhav’s Sanjay Raut sued for conspiracy to murder

Mumbai:

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut has been charged with defamation for making a false allegation danger to his life Son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The case was registered after former Thane Mayor Meenakshi Shinde lodged a complaint against the Rajya Sabha MP.

Mr Raut has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for defamation, false accusation, promoting enmity, insult to breach of the peace and making statements for public mischief.

The Thackeray faction leader had earlier this week complained to the police that Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde had hired Raja Thakur of Thane to kill him.

He made the allegation in a letter to Thane’s Police Commissioner and a copy of the complaint was sent to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio.

Eknath Shinde Assured to investigate Mr. Raut’s claim.

Mr Fadnavis said the Rajya Sabha MP was trying to garner sympathy and was making “silly allegations”.

“I think he is creating a sensation by making such allegations. He may think that it will get him some sympathy. But you don’t get sympathy by making fake allegations,” he said.

Former state minister Aaditya Thackeray, son of former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, had said that Raut’s complaint should be taken seriously. “Unfortunately, these anti-national MLAs (from the Shinde camp) are not being controlled at all. One MLA had fired in Mumbai’s Mahim area, but no action was taken,” he said.

The rival Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde are embroiled in a legal battle over control of the Shiv Sena.

The Election Commission has allotted the party name and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol to Mr Shinde’s camp.

Mr Thackeray has challenged the Election Commission’s order in the Supreme Court, saying it cannot stay the order “at this stage”. The matter will be heard again after two weeks.