Union Minister Narayan Rane was alleged to have defamed Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Uddhav Thackeray for which he was arrested by Maharashtra Police as an FIR was lodged against him. Magistrate Court at Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra has granted bail to the Union Minister Narayan Rane after furnishing bail of Rs. 15,000/- in the present case.
Union Minister Narayan Rane was alleged to have defamed Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Uddhav Thackeray and was arrested for the same by Maharashtra Police. The First Information Report lodged against him stated that Union Minister Narayan Rane made derogatory remarks about Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Similar FIRs have been observed against Mr. Narayan Rane in the past u/s 500, 153A and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code 1860.
S.500: This section of the IPC lays down the punishment for Defamation, the definition of which is provided for u/s 499 of IPC i.e., ‘Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.’
S.505 (2): S.505 refers to statements that may lead to public mischief under which sub-clause 2 refers to Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes. The punishment for the same is also prescribed under this section as imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
S. 153A: This section refers to Promoting enmity between different groups and prescribed the punishment for the same as imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. This promotion of enmity may be based on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever.
Magistrate Court at Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra has granted bail to Union Minister Narayan Rane after furnishing bail of Rs. 15,000/- in the present case on the grounds that; S. 500 of IPC would not fall in effect as it was a non-cognisable offence and not filed by victim himself & that Mr. Rane’s health conditions made him vulnerable. It was also argued in Mr. Rane’s defense that all offenses made against Mr. Rane were punishable for less then 7 years and hence no custody was necessary.
Jurisdictio Omnis 