Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut pleaded "not guilty" on Thursday before a magistrate on a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya's wife.
Mr. Raut, currently lodged at Arthur Road Jail in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai chawl, was produced via video conferencing. Metropolitan magistrate P.I. Mokashi adjourned the matter to September 19.
On July 8, the Additional chief metropolitan magistrate issued a bailable warrant against Mr. Raut as he had failed to appear before the court. However, the court cancelled the warrant, when he appeared on July 14 and furnished a personal bond of ₹15,000.
