Bathinda, Punjab – Kangana Ranaut, Bollywood actor and current BJP Member of Parliament for Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, was granted bail today in a defamation case dating back to 2021. The case was filed by Mahinder Kaur, an 81-year-old farmer, who alleged that Ranaut made derogatory remarks about her during the 2020-2021 farmers' protests.
The controversy stems from a social media post in December 2020, where Ranaut retweeted a meme that wrongly identified Kaur as Bilkis Bano, the elderly woman who was a prominent figure in the Shaheen Bagh protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The retweet also suggested that such women were available for ₹100 to attend protests, which caused widespread outrage and led to Kaur filing a defamation complaint in January 2021.
Appearing before the court in Bathinda, Ranaut expressed regret for the "misunderstanding" caused by her social media activity. "This is just a misunderstanding. I had only retweeted a meme and did not intend to hurt specifically anyone," she told reporters after the hearing. She clarified that she had not created the original post but merely shared a meme that was circulating during the farmers' protest. She also stated that she respects every mother, regardless of their background. "Whether a mother is from Himachal or Punjab, she is respectable to me. Everyone loves me," she added.
According to advocate Raghubir Singh Beniwal, who represents Mahinder Kaur, Ranaut expressed her wish to apologize personally to Kaur, acknowledging that the situation had caused distress. However, Kaur was unwell and unable to attend the hearing; her husband, Labh Singh, appeared on her behalf. He did not immediately accept Ranaut's apology and indicated that further discussions were needed. Beniwal also contested Ranaut's claim that she had never apologized in the past.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for November 24. The case has also been transferred from the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class to that of the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Special Court).
Prior to this hearing, Ranaut had unsuccessfully sought relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court to quash the defamation proceedings. The Supreme Court had observed that Ranaut "added spice" to an already sensitive issue. Last month, the court dismissed Ranaut's petition seeking to appear via video conference, directing her to appear in person.
The Bathinda police implemented tight security measures at the court complex, with additional personnel and barricades at all entry and exit points. Superintendent of Police Narinder Singh stated that the focus was to maintain law and order and prevent any disturbances.
Kangana Ranaut, known for her outspoken views and often controversial public persona, appeared notably restrained during the proceedings. While she maintained that she had retweeted the meme inadvertently and did not intend to cause harm, her expression of regret marks a significant moment in the long-standing legal battle. Discussions with Kisan unions are reportedly ongoing and the outcome of the case remains uncertain.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to Ranaut's celebrity status and the sensitive nature of the farmers' protest, which saw widespread demonstrations against agricultural laws.
