'One Last Chance': Mumbai Court Warns Kangana Ranaut Of Non-Bailable Warrant In Javed Akhtar Defamation Case

Kangana Ranaut may face a non-bailable warrant for failing to attend 40 hearings in a defamation case filed by Javed Akhtar in Mumbai court.

File Photo of actress-politician Kangana Ranaut and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar

Source : PTI

By Darakhshan Mumtaz

A court in Mumbai has granted actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut one final opportunity to appear before it in the long-standing defamation case filed against her by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar. The court warned that if Kangana fails to attend the next hearing, a non-bailable warrant will be issued against her.  

During Tuesday's proceedings, the Bandra court noted that Kangana had missed nearly 40 scheduled hearings. Akhtar’s lawyer, Jay K Bhardwaj, filed an application requesting a non-bailable warrant against the actress, citing her repeated absence from key dates. The court has now directed Kangana’s legal team to submit a response to the application.  

Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, representing Kangana, informed the court that she was unable to attend the hearing due to her parliamentary commitments. However, the court made it clear that this was her 'one last chance' to appear before it before further action was taken.  

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Kangana Ranaut-Javed Akhtar Defamation Case

The legal dispute between Akhtar and Kangana stems from remarks made by the actress in a 2020 interview, in which she spoke about an alleged meeting with Akhtar in 2016. According to Kangana, Akhtar had pressured her to apologise to actor Hrithik Roshan over their public feud. Feeling defamed by her statements, Akhtar filed a defamation case against her.  

In 2020, after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the actress spoke about the alleged meeting she had with the legendary lyricist at his residence in 2016. She claimed that during her clash with the Roshans and the email row involving Hrithik Roshan, Akhtar allegedly told her, "Tujhe suicide karni padegi. (You will have to die by suicide)". He had asked her to end the fued and apologise to them, Kangana claimed. The 'Sholay' co-writer dismissed the assetions and filed a case against the actress for maligning his image.

Kangana later filed a counter-complaint, alleging that Akhtar had attempted to intimidate her into issuing an apology. In December 2024, both parties agreed to mediation, but the process has not yet taken place. While Akhtar was present before the Magistrate’s court on Tuesday, Kangana’s absence led to further delays in the case.