Javed Akhtar opposes Kangana Ranaut's sixth attempt to transfer defamation case to another Magistrate

Lyricist Javed Akhtar has opposed the “sixth attempt” by Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut to transfer his defamation complaint from Andheri Magistrate RR Khan currently hearing the matter, to another Magistrate..The reply came on a plea of Ranaut under Section 408 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) invoking the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sessions Court seeking transfer of proceedings being held before judge Khan..Akhtar stated in his reply filed by Advocate Jay K Bharadwaj that Ranaut had “unsuccessfully challenged the process followed by Magistrate Khan on five occasions and the present application was her sixth challenge to the process”.The five “unsuccessful instances” were:Dismissal of revision application by Mumbai Sessions Court challenging summoning order;Dismissal of plea by Bombay High Court challenging revision dismissal;Dismissal of transfer application by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate for his complaint in October 2021; Dismissal of revision application by Mumbai Sessions Court challenging the CMM’s order;Dismissal of transfer application by CMM of her cross complaint in December 2021;.Akhtar stated in his reply that “apart from the dates when Covid protocols were in force which allowed the parties to not appear in person, there were seven exemption applications filed by Ranaut which had been allowed by Magistrate Khan.”In all, Ranaut had not been present on 12 dates when the matter was listed.He added that “her presence was required only for the sole purpose of recording of the plea which is for framing of charge under Code of Criminal Procedure”.He alleged that Ranaut had been trying to somehow “delay and derail the proceedings” and that it is because of these "delay tactics" that Ranaut's plea "could not be recorded until date owing to the willful and deliberate absence" of the actor..Ranaut had claimed in her transfer plea said that the Andheri Magistrate grossly misused his power to intentionally cause injury to her.During the hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Shridhar Bhosle today, the judge asked the counsel of both parties whether the issue could be heard without going into the merits of the case.While advocate Rizwan Siddiquee appearing for Ranaut did not object, Bharadwaj vehemently opposed stating they have serious objections to the present application.Recording this opposition, the Court listed the matter for hearing on February 4, 2022.