Kangana Ranaut Faces Renewed Legal Challenges Over Controversial Remarks
Legal Issues Resurface for Kangana Ranaut
Munish Sood
MANDI: Kangana Ranaut, the Bollywood star and BJP Member of Parliament from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, is once again in the spotlight as a court in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, has reopened a sedition case against her. This case, which was initially dismissed by the MP-MLA court in May, has been revived due to a revision petition submitted by advocate Ramashankar Sharma, who is the president of Agra’s Rajiv Gandhi Bar Association. The court has issued new notices to Ranaut, with the next hearing set for June 30.
Case Background
The controversy originated from statements made by Kangana Ranaut during the farmers' protests of 2020-21. She reportedly labeled the protesting farmers as 'murderers, rapists, and extremists' and drew parallels between the protests and the Khalistani separatist movement.
Furthermore, she ridiculed Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence, claiming that India’s genuine independence was achieved in 2014 rather than in 1947. These comments have attracted significant backlash and led to various legal challenges.
Additional Legal Challenges
Kangana Ranaut's remarks have triggered legal actions in multiple states:
• Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh: A court summoned Ranaut following a complaint from Gajendra Sharma of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Kisan Shakti), who accused her of making inappropriate comments about farmers and women.
• Tumakuru, Karnataka: A district court instructed police to file an FIR against Ranaut for a tweet that likened protesting farmers to terrorists.
• Mumbai, Maharashtra: The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee lodged a complaint against Ranaut for allegedly depicting the farmers' protest as a Khalistani movement and for making offensive remarks about the Sikh community.
Political Fallout
The fallout from Kangana Ranaut's statements has not only resulted in legal issues but also political ramifications. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which she represents, has distanced itself from her comments. The party released a statement clarifying that her opinions do not align with the party's views and advised her to avoid making such statements in the future.
Despite these controversies, Kangana Ranaut is preparing for her Hollywood debut in the horror-drama 'Blessed Be the Evil', directed by Anurag Rudra, alongside Tyler Posey and Scarlet Rose Stallone. Filming is set to commence in New York this summer. Additionally, plans are in motion to create a museum in her hometown of Mandi, celebrating her journey from a small-town girl to a national award-winning actress and political figure.