After being given a last warning, actor Kangana Ranaut appeared before a Mumbai magistrate court on Monday in a criminal defamation case filed against her by lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Summons were issued to her in February. Last week, the court gave her a warning, saying it would issue a warrant against her if she failed to appear on Monday.
Ms. Ranaut has filed an application seeking the transfer of the case to another court, calling it “biased.” Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, appearing for her, said, “This court has passed orders against her multiple times without giving reasons as to why she should remain present in a bailable, non-cognizable offence.”
The matter will be heard on November 15.
No relief from HC
The Bombay High Court early this month refused to grant Ms. Ranaut any relief and dismissed her plea to quash all proceedings against her in the case.
Justice Revati Mohite-Dere had said, “There was no procedural illegality or irregularity in the metropolitan magistrate’s order initiating the proceedings.”
Mr. Akhtar filed the complaint under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Indian Penal Code. The application mentions an interview given by the actor to a channel in which she allegedly makes defamatory statements against him and links him to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
