NEW DELHI: BJP MP and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut was granted bail on Monday in Bathinda after appearing in court in a defamation case filed against her by an elderly farmer, Mahinder Kaur. The case dates back to Kangana’s controversial social media post during the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, which the complainant claimed hurt her reputation.
Kangana told the media that she had already apologized for the post.“This is just a misunderstanding,” Kangana said outside the court. “I had only retweeted a meme and did not intend to hurt anyone specifically. I have already spoken to Mahinder Kaur’s husband and apologised as she was not present today. During the farmers’ protest, many memes were circulating and I retweeted one inadvertently.”
However, Mahinder Kaur’s counsel, Raghbir Singh Behniwal, contested Kangana’s version. He said, “Kangana claims she retweeted by mistake and did not target anyone. But my client’s husband Labh Singh has stated that she never apologised before. Additionally, Kangana moved an application seeking permanent exemption from appearing in court personally on security grounds which we opposed.”
The case has now been transferred from the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class to the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Special Court). The next hearing is scheduled for November 24.
What was the tweet?
The controversy began when Kangana shared a photograph of Mahinder Kaur during the farmers’ protest and compared her to Bilkis Bano, who became a symbol of the Shaheen Bagh protests.
In her tweet, Kangana allegedly suggested that elderly women like Kaur could be “available for Rs 100” to participate in protests. The post drew immediate criticism and Kaur filed a defamation complaint in January 2021 stating that her dignity and reputation had been harmed.
The tweet that landed Kangana in court.
The tweet that landed Kangana in court.In 2022, a judicial magistrate in Bathinda issued a summons directing Kangana to appear in court. The actress later approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to quash the complaint and the lower court’s order.
The high court dismissed her petition finding no merit in it. Kangana then moved the Supreme Court but on September 12 this year, the apex court refused to entertain her plea. Subsequently, her legal team withdrew the special leave petition (SLP).
Kangana has faced multiple legal and public challenges over her statements during the farmers’ protest. In 2024, a woman constable from the CISF allegedly slapped her during a mandatory security check at Chandigarh airport. This was reportedly over Kangana’s controversial remarks about the farmers.
Agencies