[BREAKING] Karnataka HC quashes FIR against Kangana Ranaut for tweets on Farmers Protest; remits matter to Magistrate for fresh consideration

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday set aside the First Information Report (FIR) registered against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut for controversial tweets equating the farmers protesting against the recently enacted Farm laws, to terrorists..The decision was taken on procedural grounds with the Court noting that the order by the Magistrate on October 9, 2020 directing registration of FIR against Ranaut was mechanically passed. Hence, the Court remitted the matter back to the Magistrate for fresh consideration. ."Petition is allowed. Order is set aside and remitted back to the magistrate for consideration. Matter to be considered afresh,” single-judge of Justice HP Sandhesh said. .The Court also disapproved of the nature of tweets put out by Ranaut proceeding to read out her tweets in open court. “Look at her own twitter. She makes such statements.....Anyone can be called a terrorist now….Celebrities while making statements must hold their tongue” opined the single-judge, visibly irritated after going through the tweets. .The case has its genesis in a tweet put out from Ranaut's handle on September 21, 2020 which said:"People who spread misinformation and rumours about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformations about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are terrorists. You very well know what I said but simply like to spread misinformation.".A complaint was filed against the same by a lawyer, advocate Ramesh Naik for the same.On October 9, 2020, a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Court at Bengaluru directed the police to register FIR against Ranaut based on Naik's complaint.Following the order passed by the JMFC Court, Ranaut moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIR..The High Court in its order noted that the magistrate had not mentioned whether averments made in the complaint (before the Magistrate) amounted to a cognizable offence or not.It concluded that the order was mechanical and therefore sent the matter back to the Magistrate for consideration afresh.The High Court underscored on Thursday that its order was passed not on merits but on procedural aspects.