[Javed Akhtar defamation complaint] Kangana Ranaut asks Mumbai Court to record her sister’s statement before trial begins

Actress Kangana Ranaut has approached a Mumbai court requesting it to record the witness statement of her sister Rangoli Chandel before the trial begins in the defamation complaint filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar..Akhtar filed the complaint against Ranaut taking exception to certain remarks made by her in an interview aired on Republic TV.The remarks made by Ranaut was in relation to a 2016 meeting between her and Akhtar.Ranaut in her new application filed under Section 311 of the Code of Criminal Procedure claimed that her sister is a material witness as she was present with Ranaut during the 2016 meeting.She submitted that the erstwhile Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan, who is now transferred, had not recorded her sister’s statement.To bring the correct facts on record, the Court ought to examine and record Chandel’s statement, the application filed through Advocate Rizwan Siddique stated..Akhtar, meanwhile, pleaded that the present application is not maintainable at the present stage of the legal proceedings.In his reply filed through Advocate Jay K Bharadwaj seeking dismissal of the application, Akhtar pointed out that Chandel had not been cited as a witness in the complaint filed by him.The manner in which the prosecution witnesses had been examined, was also upheld by the Bombay High Court while dismissing Ranaut’s plea.He relied upon judgments to contend that the accused had no role to play in the complainant (Akhtar)’s witness list, especially at the pre-cognizance stage including seeking appearance before the Court.Bharadwaj also clarified that once trial commences, Ranaut could bring in witnesses and evidence on record in her defence..After hearing the counsel extensively today, Metropolitan Magistrate RM Shaikh will be pronouncing the verdict on the application on August 11.