The Bombay high court yesterday (September 1) reserved for orders a quashing petition filed by Kangana Ranaut against Javed Akhtar’s criminal defamation proceedings initiated against her. Justice Revati Mohite Dere, who heard the counsels for both the parties, said that she would pronounce the final order on September 9. The Andheri (Bombay) metropolitan magistrate is scheduled to hear the defamation case on September 14.
Kangana’s counsel argued in the high court that the metropolitan magistrate did not apply his judicial mind while asking for a police inquiry in the private complaint. He elaborated that police investigation was only required if the case so demanded, and the magistrate was duty-bound to record specific reasons for asking for police investigation. He also said that there was no recovery of evidence, and the police only presented a one-sided investigation report which the magistrate relied upon. He added that the magistrate had not applied his mind in his order to summon Kangana. He also said that the actress was never examined by the magistrate, and her statement was never recorded before the police as a witness.
Javed Akhtar’s counsel said that Kangana had been asked by the police to give her statement but she had not responded for reasons best known to her.