Sanjay Raut Faces Sedition Charge Over Article on PM Modi
New Delhi: A controversial article penned by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut in ‘Saamana’ has sparked a legal battle. The Umarkhed police registered an FIR, charging Raut with sedition, promoting enmity, and creating ill will, based on a complaint by BJP’s Nitin Bhutada.
The piece, published on December 10, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhutada objected, stating there was no justification for Raut’s critique, triggering a heated confrontation.
Raut, also the Saamana executive editor and a Rajya Sabha member, defended the article as political criticism. He accused the BJP of censorship, reminding them of their historical stance against such control during the Emergency.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing debates around sedition laws. While the Supreme Court had earlier placed sedition law in abeyance, recent legislative actions reveal attempts to reform criminal justice, including sedition.
The withdrawal of proposed Bills aimed at reforming the criminal justice system, which included changes to the sedition law, highlights the complexities of this legal landscape.
The clash between political expression and legal boundaries continues, spotlighting tensions between free speech and legal repercussions.
