The Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided to move forward with a defamation case against actress and politician Kangana Ranaut. This ruling came after Ranaut sought to dismiss both the complaint and a summons issued by a Bathinda court, which were based on Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.
The controversy began with a retweet made by Ranaut during the farmers’ protests that took place from 2020 to 2021. In her tweet, she commented on a person featured in Time magazine, calling attention to issues regarding public relations related to India.
During the court session, Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya reviewed the evidence and arguments presented. The court stated that there were serious allegations against Ranaut, claiming her comments had harmed the reputation of the individual involved. The court noted that pursuing the complaint was justified and not done with bad intentions.
Justice Dahiya emphasized that the decision was made after careful consideration of the case’s facts and preliminary evidence. Observers noted that Ranaut’s defense claimed she did not intend to harm anyone and believed her retweet was made in good faith. However, the High Court dismissed this argument, stating she was not automatically protected under the law.
Additionally, the court remarked that Ranaut had not apologized or acknowledged any error after learning she had misidentified the person in the image. Earlier, a Bathinda magistrate had issued a summons based on the initial findings that there was enough evidence for a defamation case.
Overall, the High Court has affirmed the earlier decision, indicating that the magistrate acted thoughtfully when he decided to proceed with the case.
