Defamation suit against Ranes to be withdrawn

MUMBAI: A three-year-old row between senior Congress leader Narayan Rane's son Nitesh and a man who was once a member of his NGO has taken a new turn.
The man, Chintu Shaikh, is withdrawing the defamation case against Narayan Rane, who is industries minister, and Nitesh.
TOI is in possession of the application that Shaikh's lawyer will submit in court for withdrawal of the complaint and offences under Sections 499, 500 and 501 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
Shaikh did not respond to calls or text messages, but Nitesh Rane confirmed the development.
"Recently both parties decided to settle the case out of court," he said. "The application will be made in court during the next hearing (Friday)," Nitesh said.
Shaikh, a former member of Nitesh's NGO Swabhiman Sanghatana, had accused the younger Rane of opening fire on him in the organization's office in Khar and had filed a complaint with the police in Powai on September 23, 2010.
Asked how did the complainant agreed to withdraw the case, Nitesh said, "There was no point in pursuing the legal case as it would have consumed valuable time of both parties. I also told him (Chintu) that once the case is withdrawn they are free to take to select their career plans for the remaining life. He (Chintu) was convinced. We both decided to amicably settle the case outside the court."
Earlier in August a magistrate court had rejected CBI's closure report giving clean chit to Nitesh in an attempt to murder case. The CBI had filed a closure report in 2012, stating there were no eyewitnesses. The Khar police had booked Nitesh and his two aides under sections of the IPC, including 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and also the Arms Act.
Case progress
2010: Chintu Shaikh files criminal complaint at Powai police station. Also files defamation case against Ranes
2011: After Shaikh says police trying to shield Nitesh Rane, HC transfers case to CBI
2012: CBI files closure report
2013: Court rejects CBI's report
September 2013: Shaikh and Nitesh Rane decide to settle defamation case outside court