Bathinda court rejects Kangana Ranaut’s plea for Virtual appearance in defamation case
Bathinda, Sept 29,
Bollywood actress and BJP MP from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut has suffered a legal setback after a Bathinda court rejected her plea to appear via video conferencing in a defamation case filed against her during the farmers’ protest. The court directed Ranaut to appear in person on October 27, with summons to be delivered through the SSP.
The case dates back to January 2021, when 81-year-old farmer Mahinder Kaur of Bahadurgarh Jandia village, Bathinda, filed a defamation complaint against Ranaut. During the farmers’ agitation, the actress had tweeted that elderly women, including Kaur, were “available for 100 rupees” to join protests, sparking outrage. She also remarked that Pakistani journalists had hijacked India’s international PR by highlighting such protestors.
Kaur, who was once featured in Time magazine as one of the most influential women in India, called Ranaut’s comments false and derogatory. “How would Kangana know what farming is? She has insulted farmers. We earn through sweat and blood. What do I have to do with 100 rupees?” Kaur had said in a television interview soon after the controversy broke.
Following the complaint, the Bathinda court summoned Ranaut after a 13-month hearing process. The actress sought relief in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which rejected her plea. She then approached the Supreme Court, where she was also denied exemption. Her latest request to attend proceedings through video conferencing met the same fate in the Bathinda court.
With the court insisting on her physical presence, Ranaut must now appear before the Bathinda court on October 27 in the defamation trial, which has kept the 2021 controversy alive even after four years.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
