Bathinda (Punjab): BJP Member of Parliament and actor Kangana Ranaut suffered a significant legal setback in a defamation case being heard in a Bathinda court, after the court on Tuesday rejected her application seeking exemption from personal appearance and directed her to appear in person by January 15.
The court adopted a firm stance while dismissing Ranaut’s plea and made it clear that her presence in court on the next date of hearing is mandatory. It warned that failure to comply with the order could lead to cancellation of her bail and issuance of arrest warrants.
The case relates to a defamation complaint filed by Mahinder Kaur, an elderly woman, who has accused the actor of making defamatory remarks. Notably, this was the fourth time Ranaut had sought exemption from appearance in the matter. Each of the earlier applications had been strongly opposed by the complainant’s counsel, Advocate Raghbir Singh Wahniwal, who argued that the accused was deliberately avoiding court proceedings without valid justification.
During the hearing, Ranaut’s legal team submitted that she was unable to attend the court due to official commitments. However, the court observed that no supporting documents or evidence were placed on record to substantiate the claim. Taking serious note of this, the court remarked that judicial time should not be wasted without sufficient cause.
With the rejection of the exemption plea, legal pressure on Ranaut has intensified. The court’s order makes it clear that any further absence on the scheduled date could result in stricter legal action, significantly escalating the matter.
