When Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut appeared before a Bathinda court on Monday in connection with a defamation case, she was granted bail after expressing regret and clarifying that the controversy had been a “misunderstanding.”
The development was widely viewed as a moment of emotional vindication for 78-year-old farmer Mohinder Kaur, who has spent years pursuing justice to restore her reputation.
Kaur, who lives in Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Punjab’s Bathinda district, owns 13 acres of farmland, a significant holding in a state where nearly two-thirds of farmers cultivate less than 10 acres. Yet, her life remains simple and grounded. Her house is old, its roof supported by wooden beams, and each morning she still lights a clay stove to prepare meals for her ailing husband, Labh Singh, 80, and her bedridden son, Gurdas, before starting her daily routines and continuing her legal fight.
She explains that land ownership in Punjab often creates a false impression of prosperity, pointing out that the income from farming barely compares to that of a low-level government employee. Once a cotton grower, she shifted to paddy cultivation after widespread crop failures across the state. Having married off four children and spent her life working the fields, Kaur says she intends to continue her struggle to protect her dignity, the Indian Express reported.
About a year and a half ago, Kaur lost her daughter-in-law to an infection. More recently, her son has been confined to bed for three months due to a severe leg infection and was discharged from the hospital only a week earlier. With her son’s health failing, it was her husband—despite his struggles with asthma—who appeared in court on her behalf.
Life, Kaur says, has never been easy for farmers like her. With her son unwell and her daughter-in-law gone, leaving behind no children, the responsibility of running the household has fallen entirely on her. Yet, she remains determined not to abandon her pursuit of justice, speaking with a quiet but firm resolve.
These days, the family leases out most of their farmland, keeping only a small portion for growing food for their own use.
The defamation case traces back to the farmers’ protest of 2020–21, when Kangana Ranaut shared a social media post that allegedly included Kaur’s photograph. In her caption, Ranaut claimed that some protest participants were being paid to attend, and she mistakenly identified Kaur as Bilkis Bano—the Shaheen Bagh protester who had featured in *Time* magazine’s list of influential women—adding that “she is available for Rs 100.”
The remark, which spread rapidly online, deeply offended Kaur, prompting her to take legal action in an effort to reclaim her dignity.
Kaur’s lawyer, advocate Raghubir Singh Behniwal, a long-time BJP member, has remained steadfast in her support. He acknowledges that some people questioned whether his political affiliations might affect his commitment to the case, but says Kaur placed her faith in him. Behniwal adds that he too was deeply hurt by Ranaut’s remarks, which he felt disrespected the mothers of Punjab.
He points out that despite their personal and financial hardships, Kaur’s family has been unwavering in their pursuit of justice. For farmers who rely on daily labour, making time for repeated court appearances is difficult, yet they have shown up whenever called. Behniwal insists that they will not accept any apology and intend to continue fighting the case to its conclusion.
On Monday, the Bathinda court granted Ranaut bail in the defamation case. The next hearing is scheduled for November 24.