Shiv Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut have been summoned by a Mumbai magistrate court over a defamation plea filed by MP Rahul Shewale. The complaint was filed after an article in the Shiv Sena’s mouthpiece “Saamana” allegedly contained false statements about Shewale’s real estate interests in Dubai and Karachi.
Shewale’s lawyer sent a notice to the Shiv Sena leaders asking about the source of the claims. After which, a criminal defamation complaint was filed, and the court directed the Trombay police to investigate the matter. During court proceedings, Salunkhe contended that Shewale, an MP who had spent the most of his life supporting the Shiv Sena, was subject to serious political fallout as a result of the fictitious real estate claims.
“If you say he owns a real estate firm in Pakistan, that indicates he has solid ties to that nation. This shows a shocking lack of respect. His friends and allies questioned him, and he had to endure political hardships”, Salunkhe stated. After hearing the argument court summoned Uddhav and Raut. Thackeray and Raut are scheduled to appear before the court on July 14.
It should be noted that following the Shiv Sena split last year, Shewale sided with the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He currently serves as the Shiv Sena party’s leader in the Lok Sabha.
