Himachal Pradesh News
Kangana Ranaut Defamation Case: Bathinda Court Defers Hearing to January 5
The Bathinda MP-MLA court has deferred the hearing in the defamation case against BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut to January 5 after witnesses and the accused failed to appear.
A special MP-MLA court in Bathinda on Monday adjourned the hearing in the defamation case against BJP’s Mandi MP and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut to January 5, after neither the prosecution witnesses nor the accused appeared before the court.
The matter was scheduled for the cross-examination of prosecution witnesses—complainant Mahinder Kaur, an elderly farmer from Bahadurgarh Jandian village, and her relative Gurpreet Singh. The court was also to hear arguments on Kangana Ranaut’s plea seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance.
Advocate Raghbir Singh Behniwal said Kangana did not appear in court, but her proxy counsel filed an application seeking exemption for the day, citing her engagement in the ongoing winter session of Parliament. The court allowed the request.
He added that Mahinder Kaur could not attend the hearing due to her advanced age and prevailing cold weather conditions. The court directed that all prosecution witnesses be presented at the next hearing, with their names furnished in advance to both the court and the defence counsel. It also directed Kangana Ranaut to appear at the next hearing.
The case relates to a tweet posted by Kangana Ranaut during the 2020 farmers’ protest, in which she shared a photograph of Mahinder Kaur, allegedly misidentifying her as Shaheen Bagh protester Bilkis Bano and claiming that such women were “available for Rs 100” to participate in protests. Mahinder Kaur filed a defamation complaint against the actor in January 2021.
At the previous hearing on December 4, Mahinder Kaur, now 82, had appeared in court and recorded her statement. She later told the media that she would pursue the case till her last breath.
Kangana Ranaut last appeared in person before the court on October 27, when she was granted bail. On November 24, she appeared through video conferencing, during which charges were framed against her. On December 4, she was granted exemption from personal appearance due to the winter session of Parliament.
