Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate RR Khan has rejected Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's plea for exemption from attendance in a case filed by Javed Akhtar.
According to the Indian website Hindustan Times, Kangana Ranaut had sought permanent exemption from appearing in a defamation suit filed against him by singer Javed Akhtar.
A Mumbai court has ruled that although Kangana is a well-known figure, she is still guilty in the case.
The court order said that the accused was setting his own terms for the trial of this case. Defendant cannot claim permanent immunity. The accused has to abide by the procedure laid down by the law and the terms and conditions of his bail bond.
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Magistrate Khan further said that to date the accused have not appeared with the intention of cooperating with the court for the trial of the charges against them.
Javed Akhtar had filed a complaint against Kangana in the court in November 2020 in which he claimed that the actress had made defamatory statements against him in a television interview which had damaged her reputation.
Javed Akhtar said that Kangana mentioned the name of actor Shashant Singh Rajput after the death of a 'group' in Bollywood. Kangana had later filed a complaint against Javed Akhtar in the same court alleging extortion and criminal intimidation.
According to the report, Kangana had sought permanent immunity from the court saying that she is one of the leading actresses in the Indian film industry and she needs to travel to different parts of the country and international places for professional matters.
However, the court rejected his plea, saying "no doubt he has professional responsibilities as a celebrity but he cannot forget that he is an accused in this case".
