Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut pleaded not guilty in a defamation lawsuit filed against them by Shiv Sena MP Rahul Shewale. Shewale joined the Eknath Shinde faction when Shiv Sena split last year.
In June, a trial court subpoenaed Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut over an article published in Saamana, the mouthpiece of Shiv Sena (UBT), on December 29, 2022. The article alleges that Rahul Shewale has a property interest in Dubai. and Karachi.
Shewale said the allegation was defamatory because it alleged he had links to Pakistan, which he said was untrue. After the summons, Sanjay Raut personally appeared with lawyer Manoj Pingal. Pingal applied for permission from Uddhav Thackeray to appear via videoconference (VC). Pingale argued that Thackeray was a well-known figure in Maharashtra and suffered from certain pathologies. He also shared his concerns about security.
Even with Thackeray absent from court, a large number of Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters gathered outside the court grounds on Monday. Pingal claims to have security issues that's why Thackeray gets Z security.
Shewale's attorney, Chitra Salunkhe, strongly opposed the request, saying Thackeray should have honored the court summons by appearing in person.
When Pingal said that Uddhav Thackeray was not involved in the daily operations of the newspaper, Salunkhe questioned whether he had any responsibility as the newspaper's owner.
However, Judge SB Kale allowed Thackeray to appear through the VC. The judge presented the facts of the case to the two defendants and asked them to plead guilty to "guilty" or "not guilty".
Raut and Thackeray pleaded not guilty. The court adjourned the case until September 14, when Shewale is expected to testify in detail about how he was "defamed".
