Mumbai Court allows early hearing of defamation complaint by Javed Akhtar against Kangana Ranaut

A metropolitan magistrate at Andheri, Mumbai on Saturday allowed an application filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar seeking early hearing of his defamation complaint against Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut. .Magistrate RM Shaikh allowed Akhtar's plea and listed the complaint for hearing on March 23..Judge Shaikh had last heard the complaint on November 23, 2022, and had posted the matter for hearing on April 19, 2023.Akhar then moved the plea for urgent listing. Advocate Jay Bharadwaj for Akhtar told the Court on Saturday that considering Akhtar’s advancing age, it would be in the interest of justice to advance the date for hearing to the earliest. Ranaut’s lawyer, advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, opposed the application. He referred to the application filed by Ranaut, requesting the court to record the witness statement of her sister, Rangoli Chandel, before the trial begins. He argued that if the application by Ranaut is allowed and Chandel is permitted to depose by the Court, the same can take place on April 19, 2023, as per the earlier listing. The magistrate however allowed Akhtar’s application and listed the complaint for hearing on March 23, 2023."There is no hurdle if present matter is preponed and fixed for passing order on application to which the accused is also having no objection and subsequently for the sake of convenience of both the parties can be suitablu scheduled again on April 19, 2023" the order states..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.Meanwhile Ranaut also filed a cross-complaint against Akhtar raising allegations of criminal conspiracy, extortion and outraging modesty by invading her privacy..Akhtar’s complaint will now be listed for hearing on March 23, 2023.Meanwhile, the magistrate will also decide whether Chandel’s statement ought to be recorded as witness in Akhtar’s complaint.