Kangana gets bail in Bathinda defamation case
Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut was granted bail on Monday by a Bathinda court in Punjab in a defamation case filed by farmer protester Mahinder Kaur. The matter dates back to January 2021, when Kaur accused Ranaut of defaming her through a social media post during the farmers’ protest.
Court appearance and bail details
Ranaut arrived at the court around 2 pm, dressed in a saree and sunglasses. The court granted her bail on a bond furnished by her father. The actor also moved a plea seeking permanent exemption from personal appearances — a request opposed by Mahinder Kaur’s counsel, Raghubir Singh Beniwal.
Kangana’s statement and apology
After the hearing, Kangana said she regretted the “misunderstanding” caused by her post but maintained she had not made any direct remarks against an individual. “Whatever misunderstanding happened with the family of Mahinder ji, I gave a message to her husband for mata ji about how she was the victim of a misunderstanding,” she said.
Ranaut explained the post was a retweet used as a meme and claimed there were many women in that meme. “Never in my dreams could I imagine this controversy. Every mata, be she from Punjab or Himachal, is respectable to me,” she added. She also said she had already spoken to Mahinder Kaur’s husband regarding the matter and expressed regret over the fallout.
Complainant’s response and next hearing
When the court asked if she wanted to say anything, Ranaut said she wished to apologise to the complainant and asserted her post was not intended to target anyone. The court then sought the response of Mahinder Kaur’s husband, Labh Singh, who said he would consult family members before deciding whether to accept the apology. The case is listed for the next hearing on November 24.
Case background
- The complaint filed in January 2021 alleged Ranaut wrongly identified Mahinder Kaur as Bilkis Bano, the elderly activist associated with Shaheen Bagh protests.
- Kaur claimed Ranaut’s post made “false imputations and remarks,” comparing her to the “dadi” from Shaheen Bagh despite Kaur’s participation in the farmers’ protest from the start.
- Earlier this year the Supreme Court observed Ranaut’s post “was not a simple retweet” and that she had “added spice” to the content; Ranaut subsequently withdrew her plea before the apex court.
The bail marks another chapter in a long-running dispute that began during the farmers’ protest era and underlines how social media posts by public figures can lead to protracted legal battles.
