A Mumbai sessions court has dismissed Kangana Ranaut’s revision plea in Javed Akhtar defamation case, wherein she sought to ‘suspend’ the proceedings against her.
Additional Sessions Judge SU Baghele of Dindoshi Sessions Court had earlier on Saturday reserved the order. Meanwhile, Kangana’s lawyer has promised to challenge this order in the Bombay High Court.
In the instant case, Akhtar has accused Kangana of damaging his “immaculate reputation by falsely attributing statements to him,” in her interview with Republic TV anchor Arnab Goswami, on 19 July 2020, soon after actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.
He filed a complaint for offenses punishable under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, in Andheri, in November 2020.
“The complainant is one of the most senior artists in the film industry with his successful career spanning over more than 55 years, which in itself is a rare achievement. Apart from this, he was also nominated as a member of Rajya Sabha during the period March 2010 to March 2016,” the plea stated about Akhtar’s reputation.
Subsequently, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed an order on 1 February 2021, after Akhtar was examined on oath and an inquiry was made by the local police.
Soon, Kangana had challenged the issuance of process, the legality and validity of the order passed by Metropolitan Magistrate at Andheri, RR Khan. Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, appearing for Kangana had relied upon Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which states that both the complainant and the witness are required to be examined by the Magistrate on oath and that the said statement ought to be signed by the Magistrate.
The Metropolitan Magistrate Court had then issued a bailable warrant against her. Later, Kangana had, on March 25, approached the Magistrate with an application for the cancellation of the warrant. The Court, in response, canceled the warrant after she furnished a cash bail of Rs. 20,000 and surety worth Rs. 15,000.
