The Bombay high court on Monday dismissed a petition of Saamana editor Sanjay Raut for quashing a defamation suit filed by Congress leader Narayan Rane against the paper for an article printed by them in 2006. The high court directed a magistrate court to hear and decide the defamation case filed by Mr Rane within a month. Justice M.L. Tahaliyani was hearing a petition filed by Mr Raut and the paper seeking quashing of the proceedings initiated against them by the magistrate in Kankavli area of the Ratnagiri district. Mr Raut’s lawyer argued that Mr Rane never appeared in the magistrate court for the hearings and sought exemptions and adjournments due to which the case dragged on for seven years. Mr Rane had filed the defamation case after an article printed in Saamana, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece alleged corruption by him and accused him of having a criminal background. The magistrate will have to hear the case on a day-to -day basis, as the high court has directed observing that no extension will be given.
