**Kangana Ranaut’s Defamation Case: Court Denies Exemption from Appearance**
A special MP-MLA court in Bathinda has denied Bollywood actress and BJP’s Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut’s request for exemption from personal appearance in an ongoing defamation case. The court has mandated that Ranaut must appear in person on January 15, unless a specific judicial order exempts her. Additionally, the court will hear arguments regarding her application for a permanent exemption on the same day.
The defamation case was initiated in January 2021, following a complaint from Mahinder Kaur, an elderly farmer from Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Bathinda district. The complaint arose from remarks made by Ranaut on social media during the farmers’ protests of 2020-21, which Kaur claims were defamatory.
On the latest court date, Ranaut did not attend, citing prior commitments in Mumbai. Her repeated requests for exemption have been contested by the complainant’s counsel, who accused her of intentionally evading court proceedings and requested the issuance of non-bailable warrants. The prosecution highlighted that this was the fourth consecutive hearing for which Ranaut sought exemption, despite the conclusion of the winter session of Parliament.
Prosecution counsel Raghbir Singh Behniwal argued that Ranaut’s continued requests for exemption, after previously citing the Parliament session as a reason, indicate a misuse of legal provisions. Mahinder Kaur’s complaint was filed under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), following Ranaut’s social media post that included a photograph of Kaur during the protests.
As the case progresses, the court’s decision will be pivotal in determining the next steps for Ranaut and the implications of her statements during a significant period of civil unrest in India.
**FAQ**
*What is the basis of the defamation case against Kangana Ranaut?*
The defamation case against Kangana Ranaut is based on remarks she made on social media during the farmers’ protests, which an elderly farmer, Mahinder Kaur, claims were defamatory.
