A Mumbai court today granted star Kangana Ranaut’s request for a “last opportunity” to appear in the defamation lawsuit brought by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar and ordered her to attend on the next date of hearing without fail.
Mr Akhtar’s petition for the issuing of an arrest warrant against the actor, submitted through his lawyer, was also refused by Metropolitan magistrate RR Khan, although the complainant can make the case again if Ms Ranaut fails to attend at the next hearing.
The case has been set for a hearing on September 1st.
On Tuesday, the complainant submitted a response to Ms Ranaut’s request for permanent exemption from court appearances based on professional obligations. An application was also submitted with the court, seeking that an arrest warrant be issued against her.
Ms Ranaut’s counsel sought that she be excused from personal presence for the day during the hearings, which the magistrate granted.
“The accused’s attorney’s request for an exemption has been granted for today as the last opportunity. The accused’s lawyer is required to keep the accused present at the next hearing without fail “According to the court.
The magistrate remarked in response to the actor’s request for a warrant, “The application for issue of a warrant against the accused submitted by the complainant’s lawyer has been denied.
The complainant’s lawyer is warned that if the accused does not appear in court on the next scheduled date, they may submit an application for a warrant against her “..
Last November, Mr Akhtar, 76, filed a lawsuit in the magistrate’s court, alleging that Ms Ranaut made defamatory comments about him in a television interview, which harmed his reputation.
Following the murder of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June last year, Javed Akhtar alleged that Kangana Ranaut dragged his name during an interview while referring to a “coterie” in Bollywood.
