Kangana Ranaut moves Bombay High Court to quash case against her anti-Sikh Instagram post

Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has moved the Bombay High Court with a plea to quash the first information report (FIR) registered by Mumbai Police against her for putting objectionable posts on the social media app Instagram allegedly likening Sikh community to Khalistanis..In the plea filed through Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, Rananut stated there was absolutely no case made out against her, under Section 295A or even otherwise.She stated that the complainants took objection to her post of November 21 which according to them was insulting and improper.However, the post was against the acts of banned organization subsequent to the repeal of the farm laws and it was within her fundamental right of free speech under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India..Ranaut, therefore, sought quashing of the FIR on the grounds that the police officials miserably failed to apply its mind while registering the FIR.She stated that the FIR was “nothing but an act to maliciously prosecute Ranaut for exercising her fundamental right to freedom of speech” and will inadvertently create a “chilling effect” on her right to freedom of speech.She further stated that the mens rea for committing the said offence which is essential and utmost importance, was absent in the present case..Ranaut was booked by the Mumbai Police under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings. The FIR was registered based on the complaint filed by Mumbai lawyer Amarjitsingh Kulwantsingh Sandhu, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Jaspal Singh Siddhu, who were part of committees of various Gurudwaras in Mumbai and Delhi..Ranaut's plea stated that one of the complainants Amritpal Singh Khalsa, took offence and therefore “openly lent support to the banned Khalistani organization and reported the matter to Mumbai Police.” Aggrieved by the baseless FIR, Ranaut approached the High Court “to protect her legitimate rights and liberties by quashing the FIR which has been wrongly registered against her”..The petition is likely to be herd by the High Court next week.