Kangana told to appear in Bathinda court on Dec 15

Bollywood actor and BJP MP from Mandi Kangana Ranaut has been directed by a Bathinda court to appear in person on December 15. The direction came as she skipped the hearing today in the defamation case filed by elderly farmer Mahinder Kaur of Bahadurgarh Jandian village here.

Kangana’s legal team informed the court that she was engaged in the ongoing Lok Sabha session, due to which she could not appear. The court directed her to remain present at the next hearing.

The proceedings were held in camera, with only those directly involved allowed inside.

Mahinder Kaur (82), who arrived in a wheelchair, along with one of her relatives, recorded evidence before the special MP-MLA court.

The case relates to a 2020 tweet by Kangana during the farmers’ protest, in which she shared a photograph of Mahinder Kaur, mistaking her for Shaheen Bagh protester Bilkis Bano and alleging that such women were “available for Rs 100” to join protests. The remark drew widespread outrage, prompting Mahinder Kaur to file a defamation case in January 2021.

Mahinder Kaur said, “I will fight this legal battle till the end. Kangana has never met me. I have come to the court for the second time at this age,” she said, accompanied by her husband Labh Singh.

Mahinder Kaur’s counsel Raghbir Singh Behniwal said, “Kangana had earlier sought permanent exemption from appearance, which was opposed by us. Kangana’s counsel did not file a rejoinder in this regard today. The court has directed them to file it at the next hearing. The court has also directed Kangana to appear in person at the next hearing.”