Breaking: Sessions Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Union Minister Naranyan Rane, Son Nitesh In Disha Salian Death Case

A Sessions court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Union Minister Narayan Rane and his BJP MLA son Nitesh Rane in an FIR over allegedly spreading false information about late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager Disha Salian's death. The alleged remarks were made by Rane during a press conference on February 19, in which Nitesh was also present. The Malvani police booked the father-son duo under Sections 211 (False charge of offence made with intent to injure), 500 (Defamation), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 II (criminal intimidation) and 34 of the IPC read with Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Last week the father-son duo approached Bombay High Court to quash the case against them. According to police, Salian had died by suicide on June 8, 2020 — six days before Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead inside his Bandra home. Since Salian's death several controversies emerged questioning the circumstances surrounding their deaths. After Rane's press conference, Mumbai Mayor Kishor Pednekar visited Salian's family and lodged a complaint with the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) on February 21. The MSCW recorded Salian's mother's statement before involving the Mumbai police. Salian's mother is the complainant in the case. Before the sessions court, the Ranes represented by Advocate Satish Maneshinde argued that they had become punching bags for the state machinery. A large number of bogus cases are piled up against BJP leaders, they argued. Regarding the investigation by Malvani police, duo submitted that they were purposely made to wait for eight to ten hours. They sought the DCP's CDR to verify the probe was independent, alleging that the officer was taking instructions from someone else. "None of the alleged tweets can be said to be vulgar," Maneshinde argued. He further said that the reasons for death other than suicide has been there since 2020, however only the Rane have been prosecuted. Special Public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat opposed the applications. He denied allegations of political rivalry, calling it a "serious issue." He said when Salian died, the Mumbai police investigated the matter and filed an accidental death report. "Full opportunity given to family to explain the circumstances (surrounding her death) and they are satisfied." "Narayan Rane is a Union Cabinet Minister, Nitesh is an MLA...They are not ordinary people..they are expected to talk with responsibility," he said. He argued that the father-son duo failed to give the material on which the statements were made. "They say they don't trust Maharashtra police, and give the material to CBI," Gharat said citing the duo's previous antecedents. "They are very influential people, even today they are threatening police." In the ABA application, the duo claimed they have "no role to play in the alleged crime" and that the FIR is registered with ulterior motive and to restrict their movement. That the only non bailable section in the present FIR is section 506 II (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. "That a bare perusal of the FIR makes it apparent that the ingredients of these sections are not made out in the present case and hence it is obvious that the said sections have been included merely to curtail the liberty of the present Applicants." They said that the complainant didn't allege that she was ever threatened or intimated by the them, let alone threatened with death or grievous hurt and hence the ingredients of Section 506 II of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 are not attracted. Moreover, section 67 (Transmission of lascivious content) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.Click Here To Read/Download Order

Breaking: Sessions Court Grants Anticipatory Bail To Union Minister Naranyan Rane, Son Nitesh In Disha Salian Death Case

Sharmeen Hakim

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