Ex-MP Vinayak Raut, Family Charged After Daughter-In-Law's Harassment Complaint

Police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered a case against former Member of Parliament Vinayak Raut, his wife, councillor son Gitesh Raut and two others following allegations made by the family's daughter-in-law under the state's anti-superstition law. The complaint alleges that the accused subjected her to superstitious practices, domestic abuse and prolonged mental harassment during her marriage. The case has been registered, and an investigation is underway. The allegations have not yet been tested in court.

According to the complainant, Girija Raut, she endured social, emotional and mental harassment for nearly seven years before approaching the police. She alleged that her in-laws forced her to consume cow urine and plucked her hair as part of alleged occult rituals. The FIR also names two individuals identified as Firoz and Qazi, who are accused of acting as occult practitioners in connection with the alleged incidents.

Girija Raut further claimed that her in-laws repeatedly took her to practitioners of occult rituals over what she described as concerns related to her husband's infertility. She alleged that Vinayak Raut, despite being the head of the family, failed to intervene or support her. She also accused her husband of denying her a physical relationship from the beginning of their marriage and claimed he made unusual statements regarding intimacy during their honeymoon and subsequent years.

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The complainant alleged that she was subjected to repeated verbal abuse, public humiliation and physical assault during the marriage. She claimed arguments frequently took place regardless of the location and that members of her husband's family were aware of the alleged behaviour. She also alleged that she was repeatedly deprived of food, abandoned on several occasions and subjected to continued emotional and domestic abuse.

Among the incidents described in the complaint, Girija Raut alleged that she was assaulted during a trip to Australia in 2018 after raising concerns about their marital relationship. She claimed her husband warned her that physical intimacy would endanger his life and continued to avoid her despite repeated attempts to discuss the issue. These allegations form part of the broader complaint now under investigation by the police.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case under relevant legal provisions, including Maharashtra's anti-superstition law, and initiated an investigation. Vinayak Raut, who is considered a close associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and the other accused have not publicly responded to the allegations. Authorities have stated that further action will depend on the findings of the investigation, while the allegations remain subject to legal scrutiny.

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