Overview

• The special court for MPs and MLAs dismissed Narayan Rane’s application to quash the summons issued by the Mazgaon magistrate’s court in Sanjay Raut’s criminal defamation suit on July 16.
• Special Judge S R Navander ruled that Rane’s alleged remarks were vague, unsubstantiated and made with an intent to tarnish Raut’s reputation.
• In April, the magistrate’s court held a prima facie case under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code after reviewing newspaper clippings, a pen drive recording and a photo album presented by Raut.
• Rane had contended that the summons were issued without reasons or application of judicial mind, were politically motivated and lay outside the magistrate court’s jurisdiction.
• Following the special court’s ruling, the defamation trial will return to the magistrate’s court for further proceedings.