A Mumbai court has given Kangana Ranaut one final chance to appear before it considers issuing a non-bailable warrant in the defamation case brought by Javed Akhtar. Akhtar’s lawyer requested the warrant due to Ranaut’s consistent absences from nearly 40 scheduled court dates. She has attributed her non-appearance to parliamentary commitments. This legal dispute dates back to 2020, and mediation efforts are still ongoing.
Mumbai: A Mumbai court granted actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut “one last chance” before potentially issuing a non-bailable warrant in a defamation case filed by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Reports indicate that Ranaut missed the session intended to resolve the dispute. Her advocate, Rizwan Siddiquee, stated that she was unable to attend due to “parliamentary commitments.”
In response, advocate Jay K Bhardwaj, representing Akhtar, filed for a non-bailable warrant, citing her “repeated absences from nearly 40 key court dates.” The court instructed Ranaut’s counsel to respond to this application before taking further action.
The legal conflict began in 2020 after Ranaut discussed an alleged meeting with Akhtar during a televised interview, which he later denied, leading him to file a defamation suit claiming her statements harmed his reputation. Ranaut subsequently lodged a counter-complaint against Akhtar, alleging he pressured her into an apology through undue influence.
Although both parties agreed to mediation in December 2024, it has yet to occur. The mediation session was set for Tuesday, with Akhtar present in court, but Ranaut’s absence postponed the proceedings.
On the professional front, Ranaut, who recently premiered her film “Emergency,” has announced the opening of her restaurant, calling it one of the “most special projects” of her life and an “extension of herself.” She shared a video of the cozy new space and revealed that the restaurant will open on February 14.
Also Read: Kangana Ranaut vs Javed Akhtar: Bombay High Court’s Defamation Case Verdict
Additionally, she is set to reunite with her “Tanu Weds Manu” co-star R. Madhavan for her next film.
This legal dispute originates from a 2016 meeting at Akhtar’s residence, during which he allegedly advised Ranaut to apologize to actor Hrithik Roshan amidst their publicized conflict. Ranaut later recounted this meeting in a 2021 televised interview, making remarks that Akhtar claims are defamatory, leading him to file the current defamation complaint against her.
The court’s latest directive highlights the importance of Ranaut’s compliance with judicial proceedings and signals potential legal consequences should she fail to adhere to the court’s orders.
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