Chandigarh, Nov 24 (UNI) A local court in Bathinda has framed charges against actor and Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut in a defamation case filed by an elderly woman farmer, marking a significant development in the nearly four-year-long legal battle.
The court has, however, not yet ruled on Ranaut’s request seeking an exemption from personal appearance.
The complaint was filed by 87-year-old Mahinder Kaur, who claimed Ranaut defamed her through a social media post during the 2021 farmers’ protest. In her tweet, the actor allegedly suggested that elderly women participating in the agitation were paid Rs 100 to sit at protest sites.
During a previous hearing, Kangana appeared in person and apologised to the complainant, stating that her comments were a result of a “misunderstanding.”
She told the media outside the court that she never intended to insult the farmer. The apology, however, has not led to the closure of the case.
Mahinder Kaur rejected Ranaut’s apology outright, claiming it came “too late.”
She said the actor should have apologised when the controversy erupted. “Why apologise now? Her ego broke only after the court summoned her,” Kaur remarked, accusing Ranaut of trying to avoid court proceedings by seeking video-conferencing appearances from Delhi and Chandigarh.
Kaur also alleged that the tweet deeply damaged her reputation.
“She ruined my image while she enjoyed fame and money. The law is equal for everyone, rich or poor,” she said.
Ranaut’s legal team has requested that she be allowed to appear through video conference in future hearings. The court has forwarded the request to the complainant’s counsel, who will submit a response on December 4. The case dates back to January 2021, when Kaur filed the complaint after the tweet went viral, triggering widespread criticism against the actor.
Attempts by Ranaut to quash the proceedings in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and later in the Supreme Court, were rejected, paving the way for trial in the Bathinda court.
The matter will now proceed with arguments on the framed charges in the upcoming hearings.
