Pro-BJP actor Kangana Ranaut was forced to make a personal appearance in a Mumbai court days after Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan said he would issue an arrest warrant against her. Faced with public humiliation, Kangana’s lawyer said that her client had sought the transfer of the case.
Kangana’s lawyer, according to the Livelaw, said, “Kangana has lost faith in this court.”
The court has adjourned the matter for hearing on 15 November. The transfer application will be heard by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate on 1 October.
Last week Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan had said he would issue an arrest warrant if Ranaut failed to appear before the court today.
Adjourned to November 15, after Ranaut's counsel Rizwan Siddiqee said she has sought transfer of case.
"Kangana has lost faith in this court."
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) September 20, 2021
The controversial actor did not find much sympathy from netizens, who felt that the court was right in forcing Kangana to fall in line. One wrote, “And the over the top loudspeaker is brought to answer uncomfortable questions.”
Another Twitter user wrote, “Punish the liar Kangna ranaut..why was she not appearing in court from months and disrespecting court? and then she calls herself nationalist lol agar khud sach thi to ab tak kyun avoid kar rahi thi..she ahsn’t proved how Javed aktar was involved in SSr case, arrest her.”
Earlier this month, the Bombay High Court had rejected Kangana’s petition, which sought the quashing of the defamation case filed against her by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar. . Justice Revati Mohite Dere had said that the magistrate court had applied its mind and considered all aspects before issuing the summon to Kangana.
Akhtar had filed a defamation case against Kangana after he took a dim view of remarks made by the pro-BJP actor in an interview to Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami.
Speaking to Goswami, Kangana had said that Bollywood was run by the mafia. When asked to name those behind running this imaginary mafia, Kangana had named filmmakers Mahesh Bhatt and lyricist Javed Akhtar. “Then there are Javed Akhtar and company, who are so-called atheists. But their whole group is about keeping an eye on who is Islam friendly and who is not Islam friendly.”
