Thane: A Thane sessions court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to former MP Vinayak Raut, wife Shamal, son Gitesh, and two relatives in connection with a case registered by Kapurbawdi police over allegations of cruelty, concealment before marriage and subjecting his daughter-in-law to alleged black magic and “inhuman” rituals.The FIR invokes provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013.According to the prosecution, the complainant alleged that after her marriage with Gitesh in 2017, she discovered that he had allegedly concealed his impotency and that she was taken to several self-styled godmen between 2018 and 2022, where she was subjected to superstitious rituals in the guise of treatment. She also alleged mental harassment and cruelty during the marriage.Additional sessions judge S P Agarwal observed that the alleged incidents were several years old, no complaint had been lodged during the relevant period and the parties had continued to seek medical and psychological treatment together. The court noted that the dispute appeared to have arisen from a strained matrimonial relationship and held that custodial interrogation of the applicants was not necessary at this stage.Allowing the anticipatory bail plea, the court directed that in the event of arrest, all five applicants be released on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each with sureties. The court also imposed conditions restraining them from influencing witnesses. Gitesh has been directed to report to Kapurbawdi police station every Friday until the filing of the chargesheet.
