Renowned Bollywood actress and BJP candidate for the Mandi parliamentary seat in Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut, has recently ventured into the political arena. Earlier this month, Ranaut filed her nomination for the election and expressed her hopes of achieving success in politics as well. However, her affidavit revealing her assets also highlighted a more contentious side of her public life—eight criminal cases filed against her. Let’s delve deeper into these significant legal battles that have embroiled the actress-turned-politician.
**Defamation Case by Javed Akhtar**
Poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar, a respected figure in Indian entertainment, has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kangana Ranaut. The origin of this case dates back to an interview where Ranaut alleged that Bollywood operates under a mafia-like structure, implicating Akhtar as part of this illicit network in relation to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The complaint, submitted to the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Andheri, asserts that Ranaut’s claims disseminated during the interview significantly tarnished Akhtar’s reputation, garnering millions of views on YouTube alone.
**Defamation Case by Mohinder Kaur**
Filed in January 2021, this defamation case centers around Kangana’s controversial tweet during the farmer protests. Mohinder Kaur alleged that in her Twitter post, Ranaut made defamatory remarks comparing her to the “Dadi” at Shaheen Bagh, insinuating that such protests could be orchestrated for a fee. This tweet galvanized Kaur to file a complaint with the Magistrate Court in Bathinda, invoking sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, accusing Ranaut of making false and damaging imputations.
**Defamation Cases by Aditya Pancholi**
Veteran Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab initiated a series of defamation cases against Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli in 2017. The cases were prompted by Ranaut’s allegations on multiple public platforms, including national television, where she accused Pancholi of abusive behavior during her early years in the industry. Rangoli’s social media posts further exacerbated the situation, leading Pancholi to claim reputational damage. Pancholi and his wife alleged that these accusations were aimed at maligning their image.
**Copyright Violation Case**
In 2021, Ashish Kaul, the author of “Didda: The Warrior Queen Of Kashmir,” filed a copyright violation case against Ranaut, claiming she used material from his book without permission. The city court directed the Mumbai Police to register an FIR against the actress.
. Kaul’s plea stated he held exclusive rights to the life story of Didda, which Ranaut allegedly violated by announcing the production of her film “Manikarnika Returns: The Legend of Didda.” Kaul, a descendant of the queen, emphasized that Ranaut’s actions infringed on his intellectual property rights.
**Tweet on Farmers’ Protest**
In 2020, a now-deleted tweet by Ranaut regarding the farmer protests led to a court order in Karnataka directing an FIR to be filed against her. The tweet, made during a period of intense protests against three new agricultural laws, prompted lawyer Ramesh Naik to lodge a complaint. Farmers predominantly from Punjab were rallying against the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Naik’s complaint resulted in judicial scrutiny of Ranaut’s social media activities.
**Provoking Hate Speeches**
October 2020 saw a Mumbai-based lawyer, Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, file a complaint against Ranaut for allegedly “spreading hate and breaking the brotherhood, and integrity of the country” through provocative speeches. The case accuses Ranaut of stirring discord not only regarding the Maharashtra Police and government’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case but also claims she sowed enmity among citizens for political gain.
**Insulting Post on Instagram**
Another high-profile conflict emerged in 2021 when Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, led a delegation to file a complaint against Ranaut. This complaint addressed to the Delhi police centered on an “insulting” Instagram post by Ranaut. In this post, Ranaut praised former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her actions against Khalistanis, remarking that Gandhi “crushed them like mosquitoes,” while also recognizing the suffering this brought to the nation. Sirsa’s complaint demanded a formal apology and the retraction of her Padma Shri award.
Kangana Ranaut, a polarizing figure known for her outspoken nature, now faces an array of legal challenges as she steps into the political spotlight. As these cases unfold, they not only affect her public image but also serve as a litmus test for her political journey in the tumultuous landscape of Indian politics. With the election on the horizon, it remains to be seen how these controversies will impact her political aspirations and public standing.
