Sanjay Raut, an MP for Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha, used an expletive in his tirade against Kangana Ranaut (File)
Bombay:
The Bombay High Court today arrested Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for remarks to actor Kangana Ranaut earlier this month – as the two argued bitterly against her comparing Mumbai to PoK – demanding to know if this was appropriate behavior for a parliamentarian.
A division bench of Judges SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla had several harsh words for member Rajya Sabha, who is a high-level Sena figure and party spokesperson.
“We also don’t agree with what the petitioner said. But is that the way to address her? You are a leader. We are proud to be Maharashtrians … but is it how to react? You have to be graceful. You cannot use such language, “the court said.
“We are all Maharashtrians and proud to be Maharashtrians, but we must show grace. This is not the way,” added the judges.
Reproved, Mr Raut’s lawyer said “the language used could have been avoided” but also appeared to insist that the remark itself was prompted by a “dishonest” petitioner.
During today’s hearing, Mr. Raut, through his lawyer, also submitted an affidavit denying that he threatened Ms. Ranaut and that the comment “was not in the manner in which the petitioner l ‘had alleged “.
The court, in no mood to give in, pointed out that the affidavit meant that Mr. Raut had at least accepted that he had spoken about the actor; In an earlier hearing, counsel for the Sena leader said his client made no reference to Ms Ranaut.
“He shouldn’t have said that … but there was no threatening message. He only said the petitioner was very dishonest. It was after the petitioner said Maharashtra was not sure, “said the lawyer quoted by the PTI news agency.
Kangana Ranaut claimed Rs 2 crore in compensation for the “illegal” demolition of his office (File)
Mr Raut was caught on camera using a curse in a tirade against Ms Ranaut after the 33-year-old actor compared Mumbai to PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
He has yet to apologize for the remark but, amid indignation over his comment, Mr Raut admitted his word choice could have been better.
“Maybe I made a mistake,” he told GalacticGaming.
“(But) Kangana also makes these mistakes, we have seen this over and over,” he added – an apparent reference to Ms Ranaut’s comment about not feeling safe in Mumbai.
Yesterday, an audio recording of Mr. Raut’s commentary was played in court; who hears the question via videoconference due to the pandemic.
The feud between Maharashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena and Kangana Ranaut erupted after the actor’s remarks regarding the Mumbai police investigation into the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Criticizing the handling of the case by the police, Ms Ranaut said she did not feel safe in the city.
The Sena broke loose and demanded that she stay away if that was the case. It was then that Ms Ranaut wondered “why Mumbai looked like PoK”.
As exchanges between the two sides escalated, civic authorities in Mumbai began to demolish Ms Ranaut’s office in the upscale residential neighborhood of Pali Hills, citing 14 “violations”.
Ms Ranaut was granted a stay on the demolition and earlier this month filed for compensation of Rs 2 crore in an amended petition in the same case. In the amended petition, she said the demolition was a direct result of her comments against the government of Maharashtra.
Mr. Raut has become a respondent to the petition against demolition.
The court is currently holding a final hearing on the petition but has adjourned the hearing to October 5.
With the contribution of PTI
