BOMBAY HC REFUSES TO QUASH F.I.R. AGAINST KANGANA, SISTER OVER ONLINE POSTS, ASKS THEM TO APPEAR BEFORE POLICE ON JANUARY 8 | 24 November, 2020

The Bombay high court today (24th November) granted Kangana Ranaut and her sister, Rangoli Chandel, interim protection from arrest in a sedition case filed against them. However, it did not quash the FIR against them. Kangana and Rangoli had filed a petition before the Bombay high court to seek quashing of criminal proceedings initiated against them for their online posts allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, and hurting religious sentiments. The petition also sought a stay of the investigation into the allegations. The high court directed them to appear before the Bombay police on January 8, 2021.

The FIR was registered following orders from a magistrate’s court at Bandra in Bombay, directing the police to carry out an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister after a complaint was lodged against them for allegedly “trying to create hatred and communal tension” through their social media posts. The complaint was file by casting director and fitness trainer Munawwar Ali Sayyed. He said that the sisters, through their social media posts, had defamed the entire film industry.