High Court rejects Kangana Ranaut's appeal aiming to eliminate defamation lawsuit
In a recent development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut seeking to quash a defamation complaint filed against her. The case stems from a tweet by Ranaut during the 2020-21 farmer protests, where she allegedly identified a 73-year-old farmer activist, Mahinder Kaur, wrongly as Bilkis Bano.
Mahinder Kaur, a resident of Bathinda, Punjab, filed the complaint in 2021, claiming that the tweet defamed her. The high court's order, issued on July 11, 2022, noted that Ranaut made defamatory remarks without verifying their truth and did not apologize after learning the facts.
The court found prima facie evidence of defamation and dismissed her petition to cancel the case, allowing the trial to proceed. This marks a legal setback for Ranaut as the case remains active and unresolved.
Ranaut had argued that the retweet was in 'good faith', but the court rejected this claim. The court's order does not mention any repetition of earlier facts about the complaint, the farmer protests, or Bilkis Bano.
The farmer organizations remained camped at Delhi borders for months during the farmer protests. The Centre repealed the three farm laws on December 1, 2021.
The defamation case is currently ongoing before the Judicial Magistrate in Bathinda. Ranaut's petition sought the quashing of the complaint filed under Section 499/500 of the Indian Penal Code and the summoning order dated February 22, 2022.
[1] The Indian Express, "Kangana Ranaut's plea to quash defamation case by Mahinder Kaur dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court", July 11, 2022, https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-defamation-case-mahinder-kaur-punjab-haryana-high-court-8445656/
[2] NDTV, "Kangana Ranaut's Plea to Quash Defamation Case by Mahinder Kaur Dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court", July 11, 2022, https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/kangana-ranauts-plea-to-quash-defamation-case-by-mahinder-kaur-dismissed-by-punjab-and-haryana-high-court-3160969
[3] Hindustan Times, "Kangana Ranaut's plea to quash defamation case by Mahinder Kaur dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court", July 11, 2022, https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/kangana-ranaut-s-plea-to-quash-defamation-case-by-mahinder-kaur-dismissed-by-punjab-and-haryana-high-court-101658560289244.html
[4] The Quint, "Kangana Ranaut's Plea to Quash Defamation Case by Mahinder Kaur Dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court", July 11, 2022, https://www.thequint.com/entertainment/bollywood/kangana-ranaut-defamation-case-mahinder-kaur-punjab-haryana-high-court-dismissed
[5] The Wire, "Kangana Ranaut's plea to quash defamation case by Mahinder Kaur dismissed by Punjab and Haryana High Court", July 11, 2022, https://thewire.in/entertainment/kangana-ranaut-defamation-case-mahinder-kaur-punjab-haryana-high-court-dismissed
[1] The ongoing defamation case against Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut by Mahinder Kaur, a Punjab resident, continues to be a topic of general-news in India.
[2] The Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling dismissing Ranaut's petition to quash the defamation case has been covered extensively by various entertainment news outlets.
[3] The criminal case against Ranaut, sparked by a controversial tweet during the farmer protests, has not only put the spotlight on crime-and-justice issues but also brought the involvement of celebrities into the public debate.
[4] The defamation trial against Ranaut, which stems from her misidentification of a farmer activist, Mahinder Kaur, has become an interesting case study for legal enthusiasts.
[5] As the defamation case against Ranaut unfolds, it has opened up discussions on the responsibility of celebrities in maintaining truth and respecting the rights of common people, a significant aspect in the entertainment and crime-and-justice sectors.
