The Mumbai police on Monday told the Bombay High Court that it will not take action till January 25 against actor Kangana Ranaut in an FIR filed against her for making derogatory remarks on social media against farmers .
A division bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and S.V. Kotwal was hearing a petition filed by Ms. Ranaut seeking to quash a FIR against her after a Sikh organisation filed a complaint with the Khar police station.
On November 21, the actor had posted that the farmers protest at the Delhi borders was a Khalistani movement following which an FIR was registered under section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court went through Ms. Ranaut’s Instragram post and asked the prosecution, “Where is the deliberate and malicious intent here? Section 295 says that should be the sole and dominant object.”
Chief Public Prosecutor Aruna Pai, who appeared for the police, said the Khar police had issued a notice to Ms. Ranaut, asking her to appear before them for questioning, but the actor hadn’t responded to it yet.
Ms Ranaut’s counsel told the court that his client is willing to appear before the police on December 22, but apprehended her arrest. The court then told Ms. Pai to make a categorical statement on whether they intended to arrest the actor.
The bench noted, “There is also the larger question of the protection of freedom of speech here. Unless the police make a statement of not arresting her (Ranaut), we’ll have to grant some relief.”
Ms. Pai then said the police will not arrest her until the next date of hearing which is January 25.
Meanwhile, renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar filed an application before a magistrate court seeking an issuance of non-bailable warrant against actor Ms. Ranaut for not appearing before the court. Mr Akhtar filed a criminal complaint against the actor for making defamatory statements against him and linking him with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
