Daijiworld Media Network – Thane
Thane, Jul 12: Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Vinayak Raut, his son Jitesh (also known as Gitesh) Raut, and five other family members have been booked following allegations of physical, mental and financial abuse, as well as alleged involvement in occult practices, based on a complaint filed by his daughter-in-law.
According to police, an FIR was registered on June 10 at Kapurbawdi Police Station in Thane after Girija Raut (38), who is currently living separately from her husband Jitesh Raut, lodged a complaint.
The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act.
In her complaint, Girija alleged that her marriage to Jitesh in December 2017 was arranged despite the family allegedly knowing that he was unable to maintain a physical relationship. She further claimed that she was subjected to repeated physical and mental harassment during trips to Australia, New Zealand, Kenya and Thailand whenever she questioned the issue.
She alleged that family members attributed the problem to an "external obstacle" and arranged rituals by two self-styled godmen under the pretext of removing it.
Girija also claimed that her mother-in-law compelled her to take medication to suppress her menstrual cycle, adversely affecting her health. She further alleged that she was denied treatment from specialist doctors and was instead advised to consider home insemination.
Rejecting all the allegations, Vinayak Raut said divorce proceedings between his son and daughter-in-law are already underway and claimed the complaint was filed after settlement talks failed.
According to Raut, Girija initially sought a three-bedroom flat with a terrace, an automatic car, monthly maintenance of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 5 crore as a settlement, which the family declined. He alleged that a subsequent legal notice increased the demands to Rs 5 lakh per month as maintenance, Rs 10 crore as a settlement and Rs 2 crore towards emotional distress.
The former MP also dismissed the allegations of black magic as baseless and claimed they were intended to exert pressure on his family during the ongoing matrimonial dispute.
Police said further investigation into the case is in progress.