In a recent development in the Bollywood industry, actor Kangana Ranaut has moved the Bombay High Court, seeking a stay on the criminal defamation case filed against her by renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar. This case, which has been a subject of considerable interest, stems from a dispute dating back to 2016.
Ranaut’s plea, filed through Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, argues that the defamation case by Akhtar and her subsequent cross-complaint against him are intrinsically linked, both arising from the same incident in March 2016. Therefore, she contends that they should be tried together to ensure fairness and avoid conflicting judgments. The plea emphasizes,
“It is pertinent to note that the cases filed by the Petitioner and the Respondent No. 2 against each other are both cross cases arising out of the same incident… and were therefore clubbed together so that they could be heard and tried simultaneously by the same Learned Magistrate.”
The dispute began when Akhtar filed a complaint against Ranaut in November 2020, alleging defamation and damage to his “immaculate reputation” following her interview with Republic TV Anchor Arnab Goswami on July 19, 2020. In this interview, Ranaut had dragged Akhtar’s name into the controversy surrounding actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. She is currently facing trial under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code for this case.
In response, Ranaut filed a counter-complaint in 2021 against Akhtar in the same Mumbai court, alleging criminal intimidation and insult to modesty under Sections 506 and 509 of the IPC. This complaint was based on an incident in 2016, where Ranaut alleges that Akhtar criminally intimidated her, demanding she apologize to a co-star. The Mumbai court recognized Ranaut’s complaint and issued summons to Akhtar. However, the Sessions Court stayed proceedings against Ranaut’s complaint until the disposal of Akhtar’s revision petition.
Ranaut’s recent plea in the High Court, filed through advocate Jay Bharadwaj, seeks an urgent stay on Akhtar’s defamation proceedings so that both cases can be heard together. She asserts that her case will reveal the truth of the dispute and not Akhtar’s. The plea states,
“It is Ranaut’s case that shall bring out the truth of the dispute and not that of Akhtar. It would be in the interest of justice that till the time the revision application is decided, Akhtar’s case is also stayed.”
The matter is set to be heard by the bench headed by Justice Revati Mohite Dere on January 9, 2024. This case has garnered significant attention, highlighting the complexities of legal battles in the entertainment industry and the importance of ensuring fair trial procedures.
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