The Bombay High Court on Thursday concluded the hearing and finally reserved its verdict in a plea by actor Kangana Ranaut, in which she had sought a stay on trial in connection with the defamation complaint filed by lyricist Javed Akhtar. The single-judge bench of Justice Prakash D Naik stated that the verdict is likely to be pronounced on February 2.
The bench was hearing Kangana’s plea, who had requested that her extortion complaint against Akhtar should be heard in addition to his defamation complaint since it was from the same incident. Kangana Ranaut further claimed that the proceedings from her cross-complaint have been stayed by the Sessions Court, and that should be done in Akhtar’s complaint.
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Meanwhile, seeking dismissal of Ranaut’s plea, Akhtar had replied that her petition was only to delay the said proceedings.
For those caught unaware, Akhtar had filed the defamation complaint against Ranaut in 2020, alleging that she had made defamatory statements on national and international television, “in what appears to be a clear campaign to malign and tarnish (Akhtar) in the eyes of the general public”. In his complaint, he referred to an interview given by Ranaut after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Following that, Ranaut filed a cross-complaint against Akhtar and alleged extortion and outraging modesty by invading her privacy.
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In July 2023, a magistrate court in Andheri dropped all the extortion charges against Akhtar, however, he was summoned to appear in connection with offences of criminal intimidation and harassment. Post that, the lyricist filed a revision plea before the Sessions Court in Dindoshi. The Sessions Court later stayed the summons order and criminal proceedings in connection with the actress’ complaint.
After that, Ranaut reached out to the Bombay High Court earlier this month, and sought a stay on the proceedings in the trial in connection with Akhtar’s defamation complaint. She added that since both cases arose from the same incident, the trials were required to be conducted together to avoid conflicting verdicts.
Kangana Ranaut further added that since the proceedings in connection with her complaint have been stayed, Akhtar’s complaint cannot continue. According to her, staying them till the revision application is disposed of by Sessions court is “in the interest of justice”.
