Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut was granted bail on Monday by a Bathinda court in a defamation case dating back to her 2021 social media post made during the farmers’ protest, PTI reported. The Queen actor expressed regret over the “misunderstanding” and said she has deep respect for every “mata” (mother), whether from Punjab or Himachal Pradesh.
Kangana Ranaut granted bail in Punjab defamation case
Kangana arrived at the Bathinda court on Monday, surrounded by heavy security. Barricades were set up to prevent the public from entering, and the area was cordoned off to control the crowd. The actor-politician arrived around 2 pm, accompanied by her security team and local police. This came after the court rejected her request to attend the hearing via video conference and ordered her to be physically present following multiple postponements since last September.
‘No comments against any individual’
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Kangana said she never intended to make any personal remarks against anyone. “Whatever misunderstanding happened with the family of Mahinder ji, I sent a message through her husband, expressing that I never meant any disrespect to Mata ji,” she said, according to PTI. Kangana added, “Never in my dreams could I imagine this, the way this controversy was created. Every ‘mata’, be she from Punjab or Himachal, is respectable to me.”
When asked if she admitted to any mistake, Kangana said, “If one looks at the case properly, there was nothing from my side. It was a retweet, a meme, and I spoke to Mahinder ji’s husband about it.” She repeated that her post was misinterpreted and that she “regrets the misunderstanding that arose from it.”
The defamation case was filed by 73-year-old Mahinder Kaur from Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Bathinda district. In 2021, Kangana shared a meme during the farmers’ protest, allegedly mistaking Kaur for Bilkis Bano, the woman known for her participation in the Shaheen Bagh agitation. Kaur claimed the actor’s post carried “false and defamatory remarks” that damaged her reputation and dignity.
Mahinder Kaur’s lawyer, Raghubir Singh Beniwal, said the court granted Kangana Ranaut bail on a bond submitted by her father. The actor also filed a plea requesting a permanent exemption from appearing in person for future hearings, which the opposition lawyer opposed.
Beniwal added that when the court asked Kangana if she wanted to say anything, she was willing to apologise to Mahinder Kaur and explained that her post was never meant to hurt or target anyone. However, when the judge turned to Mahinder Kaur’s husband, Labh Singh, he told the court that he would first consult others before deciding whether to accept her apology. The case has been adjourned till November 24.
Ranaut had earlier moved the Supreme Court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court refused to toss the complaint against her. The High Court noted that there were “specific allegations” suggesting her tweet harmed the complainant’s reputation and therefore could not be dismissed as “frivolous.”