A Mumbai court on Monday, 4 July, issued a bailable warrant against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut after he failed to appear before it in connection with a defamation complaint filed by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya's wife Medha Somaiya.
The Sewri metropolitan magistrate's court had last month issued a process (summons) against Raut, asking him to appear before it on 4 July. However, neither Raut nor his lawyers were present in the court on Monday, Medha Somaiya's lawyer Vivekanand Gupta said.
"Hence, we made an application for the issuance of a warrant against him, which the court allowed," Gupta added.
The court later adjourned the matter and kept it for hearing on 18 July.