Mumbai Court issues bailable warrant against Kangana Ranaut in defamation complaint by Javed Akhtar

A Mumbai Magistrate court on Monday issued bailable warrant against Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut in a criminal defamation complaint filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar against Ranaut for her statements made in an interview aired by Republic TV with Arnab Goswami..Ranaut was summoned to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan a month back after a report by the Juhu Police stated that offences alleged against Ranaut by Akhtar were made out for further investigation..Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee appearing for Ranaut submitted before the Court on Monday that the procedure to examine the witnesses stipulated under Section 200 of the Code of Criminal Procedure had not been followed.His contention was that since the procedure was not followed properly, the order of issuing process was not as per law therefore this case cannot proceed on merits. He submitted that Ranaut would be challenging the entire proceedings before the High Court..Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover along with Advocates Jay K Bharadwaj and Disha Bajaj opposed Siddiquee's submissions..They stated that Ranaut had failed to follow the order of this court by failing to appear in Court.They submitted that neither did Ranaut have a stay on the order issuing process against her, nor has she filed any petition in any higher forum yet.."It is the accused's right to appeal against the order, or even challenge the proceedings. That no one can deny, and no one can stop, not even this Court. However she failed to comply with the order of this Court and I do not see any stay obtained from a higher court," Grover argued..Grover, therefore, sought issuance of non-bailable warrant against Ranaut."My Ld. friend (Siddiquee) has not even moved an application for exemption of her (Ranaut) appearance. Hence, I seek to move this application for issuance of warrant," she said. .After hearing both parties briefly, the Court in its detailed order observed that filing of vakalatnama on behalf of Ranaut by Siddiquee is an assurance about service of summons upon the accused. The Court also observed that Ranaut had every right to challenge the order of this Court either before the Sessions court or the High Court. .The Court that despite not having a stay order from any higher courts, Ranaut had chosen to remain absent despite receipt of summons which "showed her conduct". ."Furthermore, mere intending to challenge the proceeding should not absolve her liability as an accused from attending this Court. Definitely today the accused was having option to file an exemption application for today's attendance, however, she has not preferred to opt for the same." the court stated in its order..Having said so, the Court felt that the insistence of issuance of non-bailable warrant seems to be a "harsh step". However since Ranaut had voluntarily remained absent without any justified reason and without filing the application seeking exemption from appearance, the Court issued a bailable warrant of Rs. 1000/- against her..Akhtar had moved the Magistrate court against Ranaut claiming that her statements amounted to the offence of criminal defamation under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code..As per Akhtar's complaint, Ranaut had, during her interview with Republic TV Editor-in-Chief, Arnab Goswami, allegedly commented that Akhtar was part of a "Bollywood suicide gang" who could "get away with anything"..[Read order here]