Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut used an expletive in his tirade against Kangana Ranaut (file)
Mumbai:
Mumbai High Court today criticized Shiv Sena’s deputy Sanjay Raut for comments directed at actor Kangana Ranaut earlier this month, while the two bitterly argued over their comparison of Mumbai to PoK, demanding to know if this was a behavior appropriate for a parliamentarian.
A divisional bench of justices SJ Kathawalla and RI Chagla had several stern words for the Rajya Sabha member, who is a senior Sena figure and party spokesperson.
“We also do not agree with what the petitioner has said. But is this the way to address her? You are a leader. We are proud to be Maharashtrian … but is this the way to react? You have to show grace “. . You can’t use that language, “the court said.
“We are all Maharashtrian and proud to be Maharashtrian, but we have to show grace. This is not the way,” the judges added.
Reprimanded, Raut’s lawyer said “the language used could have been avoided” but also appeared to insist that the comment itself had been provoked by a “dishonest” petitioner.
During today’s hearing, Mr. Raut, through his lawyer, also submitted an affidavit denying that he had threatened Ms. Ranaut and the comment “was not in the way the petitioner had alleged.”
The court, which was in no mood to budge, noted that the affidavit meant that Mr. Raut at least accepted that he had been talking about the actor; In an earlier hearing, the Sena leader’s attorney said his client made no reference to Ms. Ranaut at all.
“He shouldn’t have said that … but there was no threatening message. He just said that the petitioner is very dishonest. That was after the petitioner said that Maharashtra is not safe,” the lawyer said according to the PTI news agency.
Kangana Ranaut has claimed Rs 2 crore in compensation for the “illegal” demolition of his office (Archive)
Raut was caught on camera using an expletive in a tirade against Ms Ranaut after the 33-year-old actor compared Mumbai to PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
So far he has not apologized for that comment, but amid the outrage generated by his comment, Raut admitted that his choice of words could have been better.
“He may have made a mistake,” he told NDTV.
“(But) Kangana also makes these mistakes, we’ve seen them multiple times,” she added, an apparent reference to Ms Ranaut’s comment about feeling unsafe in Mumbai.
Yesterday an audio recording of Mr. Raut’s comment was heard for the court; who is listening to the matter by video conference due to the pandemic.
The dispute between the ruler Shiv Sena of Maharashtra and Kangana Ranaut broke out after the actor’s comments about the Mumbai police investigation into the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput. Criticizing the police handling of the case, Ms Ranaut said she felt unsafe in the city.
The Sena lunged at her and demanded that she stay away if that was the case. That’s when Ms. Ranaut wondered “why did Mumbai look like PoK?”
In the growing exchange between the two parties, Mumbai civic authorities began to demolish Ms. Ranaut’s office in the posh Pali Hills residential area, citing 14 “violations.”
Ms. Ranaut secured a stay of demolition and earlier this month filed a claim for compensation of Rs 2 crore in an amended petition for the same case. In the amended petition, she said the demolition was a direct result of her comments against the Maharashtra government.
Mr. Raut has been charged with the petition against demolition.
The court is now holding a final hearing on the petition, but has postponed the hearing to October 5.
With input from PTI
.
