Kangana Ranaut Vs Javed Akhtar: Actress Moves HC Against Defamation Case

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Mumbai: Kangana Ranaut has moved Bombay High Court challenging Javed Akhtar’s criminal defamation complaint against her.

The Bollywood actress has sought quashing of the case and setting aside the entire proceedings initiated at a Magistrate court based on celebrated lyricist Akhtar’s complaint last year.

Akhtar had alleged in his complaint that Kangana made defamatory statements on national and international television. “… It appears to be a clear campaign to malign and tarnish the reputation of the complainant in the eyes of the general public,” the petition stated.

The Magistrate Court, Andheri, had issued a bailable warrant in March against Kangana, who appeared before the magistrate and was granted bail.

Kangana then filed an appeal against the Magistrate court’s order, which was dismissed by Dindoshi Sessions court in April.

Now Kangana has moved the high court, challenging all the orders and summons issued till date. Her plea also states that the magistrate’s duty, instead of directing Juhu Police to conduct an inquiry, should have been to examine Akhtar and the witnesses named in complaint, as per Criminal Procedure Code.

“The magistrate failed to appreciate that he was duty bound to protect rights and interest of the proposed accused, while hearing any complaint at the stage of inquiry and also at the time of taking cognizance of the complaint,” stated the petition filed at high court through advocate Rizwan Siddiquee.