Plea by Kangana Ranaut filed for delaying criminal defamation proceedings before Magistrate: Javed Akhtar to Bombay High Court

Lyricist Javed Akhtar has told the Bombay High Court that the petition filed by actress Kangana Ranaut before the High Court to quash criminal defamation proceedings initiated by Akhtar against her, is with sole intention of delaying the defamation proceedings before the Magistrate Court Andheri filed against her..Akhtar's affidavit came in the plea filed by Ranaut challenging the criminal defamation proceedings initiated by the Metropolitan Magistrate at Andheri, Mumbai on the complaint filed by Akhtar..Ranaut sought quashing of the entire proceedings initiated by the Magistrate arising from Akhtar's complaint which would include all the orders, summons, issued till date on the ground that the same is a direct consequence of cognizance taken by the Magistrate.The petition stated that the Magistrate was duty bound to examine the complainant and the witnesses named in the complaint on oath as per Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure instead of simply directing the Juhu police, Mumbai to conduct an inquiry on the Magistrate's behalf..Opposing Ranaut's plea, Akhtar submitted that neither orders of the Magistrate including the issuance of process and warrant required the Court's interference. He submitted that Section 200 CrPC called for examination of the complainant on oath and of the witness only if there were any present.Akhtar submitted that the Magistrate had passed the issuance order after considering the evidence placed before him, the detailed verification statement of Akhtar recorded on oath and the statement of the witness recorded before the Juhu police. .After the Division Bench of the High Court directed Ranaut to approach the Single Bench, the matter came up for hearing before Justice Revati Mohite Dere. During the hearing Advocate Jay Bharadwaj and Priya Arora submitted that they have the reply affidavit to the petition ready and sought leave to file the same. .In view of the affidavit, the Court adjourned the hearing of the case to August 18, 2021..The complaint in question had been filed by Akhtar against Ranaut's statements made against him in an interview with Arnab Goswami which was aired by Republic TV.The Magistrate had issued notice to Ranaut in February 2021 and upon her failure to appear in the Court, had also issued a bailable warrant in March 2021.Ranaut had appeared before the Magistrate and applied for bail which was granted by the Magistrate.She had also challenged the order issuing process and bailable warrant before the Dindoshi Session Court which was dismissed by the Court in April 2021.l