Sedition Charge Against Sanjay Raut Over Article On PM Modi Dropped

The decision to withdraw the sedition charge against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut followed discussions with a public prosecutor and considerations of previous Supreme Court rulings.

The Maharashtra police have withdrawn the sedition charge from the case filed against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut over an article on PM Modi. Raut faced legal action over alleged objectionable content against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his column, 'Rokh Thok,' published in the party's mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The FIR against Raut was lodged at the Umarkhed police station in Yavatmal, citing sections 124 (A) for sedition, 153 (A) for promoting enmity between different groups, and 505 (2) for making statements that incite enmity, hatred, or ill-will between classes, under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The BJP's Yavatmal district coordinator, Nitin Bhutada, had lodged a complaint againt Raut for making a statement against the Prime Minister in the 'Saamana' newspaper.

The decision to withdraw the sedition charge followed discussions with a public prosecutor and considerations of previous Supreme Court rulings. The investigation continues, but the sedition charge has been removed.

"After seeking legal opinion, the police chose to drop the sedition charge from the case," stated a police official, according to PTI.

"Considering the Supreme Court's previous rulings and in consultation with a public prosecutor, this decision was made," the official added.

Last week, in response to a case filed against him regarding an alleged contentious piece in 'Saamana', Raut raised concerns about the democratic rights of politicians in India. He referenced recent comments made by Amit Shah regarding former PM Nehru, questioning whether a similar case would be filed against Shah as well.

"We have respect for PM Narendra Modi... Amit Shah made remarks on former PM Jawaharlal Nehru a few days earlier. Will a case be registered against him? We have democracy in this country and many politicians give statements. If people register cases against it, then they don't have the right to say that they fought against an emergency," Raut was quoted by ANI.

'Saamana,' a newspaper in Marathi, is circulated in the state of Maharashtra, India. It was first published on January 23, 1988. The founder of Shiv Sena, Bal Thackeray, launched the paper.