Have lost faith in this court, says Kangana Ranaut, seeks transfer of Javed Akhtar defamation case

Thalaivii (2021) actress Kangana Ranaut has sought transfer of the defamation case against her, filed by veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar, to another court, stating that she "no longer has faith" in the metropolitan magistrate's court hearing the case.

Ranaut finally appeared before magistrate RR Khan in Mumbai for the hearing today after the magistrate warned her counsel last week that her continued absence from the hearings on some or the other pretext could result in a warrant being issued for her arrest.

Ranaut's counsel had requested her to be excused last time saying the actress was unwell and displaying COVID-like symptoms. Before attending today's hearing, the actress shared on social media a picture of herself travelling to the court.

According to the legal news website Livelaw.in, Ranaut's lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, told the court, "Why is she required on a bailable, compoundable and cognisable offence? But this court has said on multiple occassions that a warrant will be issued against her, so she is not comfortable with this court... Kangana has lost faith in this court."

The magistrate will take up her plea for transfer of the case and her counter complaint against Javed Akhtar on 1 October. Meanwhile, the hearing in the defamation suit has been adjourned till 15 November.

Ranaut submitted her complaint against Javed Akhtar under section 190 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) before the city's chief metropolitan magistrate. She has accused Javed Akhtar of trying to intimidate her and her sister and manager Rangoli Chandel during her public spat with actor Hrithik Roshan. Ranaut alleged that Javed Akhtar had called her to his home and asked her to apologize to Hrithik Roshan in a bid to lower her public image. She also alleged that the lyricist had 'criminally intimidated' her in the process.

According to LiveLaw.in, Ranaut has sought that her complaint be processed under sections 383, 384 (extortion), 387 (putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt in order to commit extortion), 503, 506 (criminal intimidation, punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code.