Breaking: Bombay High Court Dismisses Kangana Ranaut's Plea To Quash Defamation Case Proceedings Initiated By Javed Akhtar

The court reserved orders on Ranaut plea on September 1.

Akhtar has accused Ranaut of damaging his "immaculate reputation" by dragging his name in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in her interview with Republic TV Anchor Arnab Goswami, on July 19, 2020.

Ranaut, in her plea under section 482 CrPC sought to quash the Magistrate's order directing the police to inquire into Akhtar's complaint and all subsequent orders. It included the order issuing process against her under section 204 and the summons issued for appearance.

Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee for Ranaut argued that the Metropolitan Magistrate had mechanically ordered the enquiry against her under section 202(1) of the CrPC without assigning reasons and also not examined witnesses cited by Akhtar on oath.

"The police didn't conduct an impartial inquiry. I have a case for criminal intimidation and threat", Siddiquee argued on behalf of Ranaut.

Advocate Jay Bharadwaj opposed relief, saying that the Magistrate had applied his mind to direct an inquiry after examining Akhtar's. The court was not required to examine other witnesses before the trial, he argued.

He further claimed that Ranaut failed to appear before the police to present her version, so now she could not accuse the police of a biased inquiry. The plea is filed with the sole intent to delay the trial, Bharadwaj added.

On July 27, the Magistrate exempted Ranaut from appearance in the defamation case as a 'last chance'. Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan directed Ranaut's lawyer to ensure she is present on the next date, failing which Akhtar could apply for the issuance of a warrant against her. The matter before the Magistrate is likely to be taken up on September 14.

The Case So Far

Akhtar filed a complaint for offences punishable under Sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, in Andheri, in November 2020.

In his complaint, Akhtar said he is a self-made man, who reached Mumbai on October 4, 1964, with Rs 27, two pairs of clothes and a few books. He was 19 then.

In February, a Metropolitan Magistrate in Andheri recorded Akhtar's statement and ordered a police inquiry under section 202 of the CrPC. Following a report from the police, the court issued process and summoned Ranaut under section 204 of the CrPC, marking the beginning of a criminal trial against her.

Before the sessions court, Kangana had challenged the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate Court's order dated February 1. However, her petition was dismissed in April 2021.

Case Title: Kangana Ranaut v. The State of Maharashtra

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