Bathinda: Bollywood actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut is scheduled to appear in Bathinda court today. She has filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance. At the previous hearing, Raghubir Singh Bahniwal, Bebe Mahinder Kaur’s lawyer, stated that Kangana Ranaut’s lawyer had requested exemption from personal appearance.
Supreme Court Declines to Quash Defamation Case
However, the court directed Kangana Ranaut to appear in person today, January 15. Recently, Kangana Ranaut appealed to the Supreme Court to dismiss the case, but the apex court did not accept her plea.
Case Linked to Farmers’ Protest Tweets
During the farmers’ protest, Kangana tweeted, “Women join the farmers’ protest for 100 rupees.” She also commented on a post about the farmers’ protest, which included a photo of an elderly woman.
‘Available for 100 Rupees’ Remark Triggered Outrage
The actress wrote, “Hahaha, this is the same grandmother who was featured in Time magazine as one of India’s most powerful women. She’s available for 100 rupees. Pakistani journalists have shamefully hijacked India’s international PR. We need our own people to speak up internationally.”
Defamation Complaint Filed in January 2021
Mahinder Kaur (81), a resident of Bahadurgarh village in Bathinda, filed a defamation case following Kangana’s tweet on January 4, 2021. The hearing lasted approximately 13 months, after which a Bathinda court issued summons to Kangana and ordered her to appear.
High Court Also Refused Relief
Kangana then filed a petition for relief in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which was rejected. She then approached the Supreme Court, where she received no relief either.
Elderly Woman’s Strong Response to Kangana
‘Why Would I Protest for ₹100?’
After Kangana’s tweet, when the matter started gaining momentum, Mohinder Kaur had said in an interview with a TV channel, “How would Kangana know what farming is? She is crazy. Shame on whatever she said. How would Kangana know what a farmer earns? When sweat flows and blood boils, only then does one earn money. It is very difficult to earn money from farming. Kangana has made a very false accusation against me.”
In the same interview, Mohinder Kaur, reacting to Kangana’s 100 rupee comment, said that her farm work never ends, so why would she participate in a protest for 100 rupees? What Kangana said is wrong. One should never speak ill of anyone.