Maharashtra leaders Shinde, Thackeray acquitted in 17-year-old defamation case

The Kalyan magistrate court on Thursday cleared Shinde and Thackeray in connection with charges related to defamation and alleged violations of electoral regulations dating back to 2009. The case emerged during a period when both leaders were aligned within the same political organization before their subsequent split.

The acquittal marks the conclusion of legal proceedings that had spanned nearly two decades. The charges had been filed under provisions of the Indian Penal Code concerning defamation as well as electoral conduct regulations applicable at the time of the alleged incidents.

Shinde currently serves as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, while Thackeray held the top post before the political realignment that reshaped state politics in recent years. The case underscores the lengthy timeline of India's judicial system, with such matters often taking considerable time to reach resolution through the courts.

The court's judgment brings closure to one of several legal matters involving the two prominent Maharashtra politicians whose political trajectories diverged significantly in the years following the original incident.