Shiv Sena’s leader, Sanjay Raut, had directed an abusive term at actor Kangana Ranaut (Archive)
Mumbai:
The Bombay High Court today reprimanded Shiv Sena’s deputy Sanjay Raut for an expletive directed at actor Kangana Ranaut earlier this year, as the two fought a bitter battle over comments comparing Mumbai to Pakistani-occupied Kashmir ( PoK).
The court also warned Ms. Ranaut not to make such comments in the future and said: “The petitioner must show restraint in expressing his views on the government.” The court warned the actor, noting: “We do not agree with what he has said.”
Raut was criticized for conduct that “does not correspond to a parliamentarian”, as the court said it did not accept his explanation: “… (the comment was) in the context of his dishonesty and that … the repealing statement made (by Ms. Ranaut) insulting the State of Maharashtra and Mumbai “.
In September, Sanjay Raut was caught on camera throwing an abusive term in his tirade against Ms. Ranaut. He never apologized for the comment, but told NDTV “I may have made a mistake.”
“Kangana also makes these mistakes, we have seen them multiple times,” he added, referring to Ms. Ranaut’s tweet about feeling unsafe in Mumbai.
The court’s observation came when it ruled on a petition by Ms Ranaut against the demolition of her office (located in a bungalow in the posh Pali Hills area of Mumbai) that same month.
The court said the demolition was “nothing more than legal malice”, in a ruling seen as a great victory for Ms. Ranaut, who will also be compensated for damages caused by the demolition.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation demolished a part of Ms. Ranaut’s office on September 9. The actor alleged that the action was prompted by comments against the Maharashtra government and the ruler Shiv Sena.
“MCGM (Greater Mumbai Municipal Corporation) has proceeded on unlawful motives, against the rights of citizens. It is nothing but malice in law,” said a division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla.
Kangana Ranaut has been in the midst of controversies this year due to a nasty confrontation with the Mumbai police and the Maharashtra government over their criticism of the Sushant Singh Rajput investigation.
Things escalated dramatically after her comments in September about feeling unsafe in Mumbai and comparing the city to PoK, with the actor accusing the civic body of targeting her for her comments.
.
