**Kangana Ranaut’s Defamation Case: Supreme Court Refuses Petition Dismissal**
The Supreme Court of India has declined to entertain a petition from actor-politician Kangana Ranaut seeking the dismissal of a defamation case linked to a controversial tweet she made regarding a participant in the 2021 farmers’ protest. During the hearing, the court remarked to Ranaut, “you added spice. It was not a simple retweet.”
The defamation case was initiated by 73-year-old Mahinder Kaur from Bathinda, Punjab, who claims that Ranaut defamed her by misidentifying her as “Shaheen Bagh dadi Bilkis,” a reference to a prominent figure in the 2019 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in Delhi. In her tweet, Ranaut allegedly insinuated that women like Kaur could be paid to protest for as little as Rs 100.
Ranaut’s legal counsel argued before Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that she merely retweeted someone else’s post and noted that the original poster had not been summoned. The bench countered, stating, “It was not a simple retweet. You have added spice… What this means is a subject matter of trial. Don’t ask us to comment on what is written in the tweet. It may prejudice your trial.” Following this exchange, Ranaut’s lawyer chose to withdraw the petition, leading to its dismissal by the court.
Previously, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had rejected Ranaut’s petitions challenging summons issued to her by a Bathinda magistrate in February 2022 regarding the same case.
**Who is Shaheen Bagh Dadi?**
Bilkis, an 82-year-old activist, was featured in Time magazine’s list of ‘100 Most Influential People’ in 2020. She became a symbol of the anti-CAA protests, standing firm at the protest site despite harsh weather and threats. In December 2020, Bilkis joined the farmers’ protests, expressing her support for their demands and urging the government to heed their calls.
In summary, the Supreme Court’s refusal to dismiss Ranaut’s defamation case underscores the complexities surrounding public discourse and accountability on social media platforms.
**FAQ**
**What is the basis of the defamation case against Kangana Ranaut?**
The defamation case against Kangana Ranaut is based on her tweet in which she allegedly misidentified Mahinder Kaur as “Shaheen Bagh dadi Bilkis” and suggested that women like her could be paid to protest, which Kaur claims has harmed her reputation.
