Kangana Ranaut seeks transfer of case in Javed Akhtar defamation suit

Entangled in a defamation suit filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar, the Bollywood actor was to appear before the court on September 14. Kangana's lawyer Siddiqui informed the court that the actor was showing Covid-19 symptoms

Mumbai:Following court's warning of arrest warrant in case of failure to appear on September 20, actor Kangana Ranaut has reached Andheri court. The case has been adjourned till November 15. Ranaut's lawyer has sought the transfer of the case which will be heard on October 1.

Entangled in a defamation suit filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar, the actor was to appear before the court on September 14. Kangana's lawyer Siddiqui informed the court that the actor was showing Covid-19 symptoms.

Metropolitan Magistrate R. R. Khan had instructed Kangana to appear for the next hearing, giving her one last chance. Akhtar was also allowed to file an application against Kangana if she was absent again. Kangana's plea seeking quashing of the case was rejected by the court on September 9. The court had reserved its order on the plea on September 1.

Reports said Akhtar filed a defamation suit against Kangana's statements during a show in a media outlet. Claiming it be an offence of criminal defamation under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, Akhtar filed case against her.

As per the complaint, Kangana allegedly commented that Akhtar was part of a "Bollywood suicide gang" who could "get away with anything." She made the comments during a media outlet's interview after death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, as per reports.

"After the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in an interview with Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnav Goswami, Kangana slandered her by making baseless allegations against her," lyricist Javed Akhtar complained through lawyer Jay Bhardwaj.