Defamation complaint by Javed Akhtar: Kangana Ranaut moves Bombay HC, seeks stay on trial

Akhtar had referred to an interview given by Ranaut after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Ranaut had also filed a complaint against Akhtar alleging extortion and outraging modesty by invading her privacy. In July 2023, a magistrate court in Andheri dropped the extortion charge against Akhtar; however, summoned him to appear in connection with offences of criminal intimidation and harassment, against which Akhtar filed a revision plea before the sessions court in Dindoshi.

The sessions court then stayed the summons order and criminal proceedings in connection with Ranaut’s complaint. Aggrieved by it, Ranaut approached the HC earlier this month, seeking stay on the proceedings in trial in connection with Akhtar’s defamation complaint.

The actor claimed that both the cases arose from the same incident and, therefore, trials were required to be conducted together to avoid conflicting verdicts. She argued that while the proceedings in connection with her complaint have been stayed, the same arising from Akhtar’s complaint cannot continue and staying them till the revision application is disposed of by sessions court is “in the interest of justice”.

The HC is likely to hear the plea on January 9.