Court issues warrant against Minister Nitesh Rane in Sanjay Raut defamation case

Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane is in trouble. A court has issued a warrant against him, addressed to his official residence in Mumbai. The case relates to a statement Rane made about Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Thackeray faction. Raut had filed a defamation petition over that statement.

The statement dates back to May 2023. Nitesh Rane called a press conference and claimed that Sanjay Raut would join the Nationalist Congress Party within the next two to three weeks, that is, before June 10. Rane also said Raut would join the party on its foundation day. According to Rane, meetings had been going on for some days over Raut's move to the NCP. Rane also said Raut was ready to join the NCP on the condition that Ajit Pawar be expelled from the party.

Over this statement, Sanjay Raut filed a defamation petition against Nitesh Rane in the Mazgaon court. Rane remained absent from hearings in the case. For this reason, the court had earlier issued a warrant addressed to his residence in Kankavli.

Kankavli police did not execute that warrant for three months. Sanjay Raut's lawyers brought this to the court's attention. The court then reissued the same warrant today, addressed to Rane's official residence in Mumbai.

There has been no response so far from Nitesh Rane on the matter. All eyes are now on what reply Rane gives the court after receiving the warrant, and whether he appears at the hearing.