Mazgaon Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Nitesh Rane in Defamation Case Filed by Sanjay Raut
A Magistrate Court in Mumbai has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Maharashtra cabinet minister and BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in a criminal defamation case filed by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. The warrant was issued on June 20 by Judicial Magistrate First Class A A Kulkarni at the Mazgaon court, after Rane failed to appear before the court despite earlier summons and a previously issued bailable warrant. The Court also rejected Rane’s application seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance.
During the hearing, the Court observed that Rane had failed to attend multiple proceedings in the case and had not shown sufficient cause for his absence. The Magistrate declined his request for a blanket exemption from appearance, citing repeated non-compliance with court directions. The matter is now posted for further proceedings and report on the execution of the NBW on July 18.
The defamation complaint was filed in May 2023 by Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, who alleged that Rane had made false and derogatory statements against him. According to the complaint, Rane had publicly referred to Raut as a “snake” and claimed he would abandon Uddhav Thackeray and align with the then-undivided Nationalist Congress Party by June 2023. Raut contended that these remarks were not only defamatory but also intended to tarnish his political image and mislead the public.
Rane, the son of BJP leader and former Union minister Narayan Rane, represents the Kankavli constituency in Maharashtra’s Konkan region. This is not the first time the court has taken coercive steps in the case, earlier warrants had also been issued against him due to his repeated absence from hearings. The Court’s latest order indicates a stricter approach toward ensuring compliance in defamation proceedings involving public figures.