Kangana Ranaut approaches Mumbai Sessions Court challenging defamation proceedings initiated by Javed Akhtar

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has approached the Sessions Court at Dindoshi, Mumbai challenging the proceedings before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Andheri in a criminal defamation complaint filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar .Akhtar had filed a complaint against Ranaut for her statements made against him in an interview with Arnab Goswami which was aired by Republic TV..In her criminal revision application, Ranaut has challenged the issuance of process as well as the legality and validity of the order dated February 1, 2021 passed by Metropolitan Magistrate at Andheri RR Khan and the subsequent action of issuing a bailable warrant against her. .Ranaut has prayed for a stay and setting aside the summoning order dated February 1, 2021. She has also prayed for cancelling the bailable warrant issued by the Magistrate.Further, she has sought an order from the Sessions Court to call for the entire papers and proceedings for examination and to suspend all proceedings..Akhtar’s complaint arose from an interview given by Ranaut to the Republic TV channel, supposedly in context of the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.Akhtar claimed that Ranaut made false statements and fabricated an incident thereby injuring his reputation..He, therefore, sought action against try her for the offence of criminal defamation..The Magistrate had, on March 1, issued a bailable warrant against Ranaut on Akhtar's plea. In her plea before the Sessions Court, Ranaut has submitted that the Magistrate at Andheri passed the order summoning her to appear before the court without examining the witnesses on oath as was stipulated under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure..“The said mandatory provision was not taken into consideration nor followed by the Ld. Metropolitan Magistrate while taking cognizance in the matter of complaint which was filed before him, and this oversight has resultantly jeopardised and compromised the Applicant’s (Ranaut) position," her plea states. .It is Ranaut's case that she had pointed out the same to the Magistrate on March 1 but despite that, the Magistrate proceeded to issue a bailable warrant against her. .Ranaut's plea was listed for hearing on Monday but was adjourned to April 3, 2021 due to paucity of time.