No arrest for Kangana Ranaut, court cites "chilling effect" on freedom of speech
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Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut will not face arrest for her remarks on the Sikh community after Mumbai Police said that she would have to co-operate with the probe against her instead. Last month, Ranaut was booked by the Khar police under IPC section 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).
The FIR was filed by leaders of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) who claimed that Ranaut's post of "Khalistani" influence on the farmers protests against farm laws was bigoted against the Sikh community.
She had also made additional remarks regarding Indira Gandhi whom she commended for "crushing" Khalistanis 'under her boots'.
"Khalistani terrorists may be arm twisting the government today... But let's not forget one woman... The only woman prime minister ne inn ko apni jooti ke neeche crush kiya tha (the only woman PM who crushed them under her shoes). No matter how much suffering she caused to this nation... she crushed them like mosquitoes at the cost of her own life... Lekin desh k tukde nahi hone diye (but she did not let the nation get divided)," the controversial post read.
"Where is the deliberate intent here? There is another angle about freedom of speech, which will have a chilling effect," the Mumbai court hearing the case asked the prosecution. The bench, consisting of Justices Nitin M Jamdar and Sarang V Kotwal, said there has to be sole intention to create disharmony by hurting religious beliefs and not a mere fallout.
Kangana Ranaut has filed a plea against the FIR which is described as "wrongly registered" in light of her legitimate interests and remarks against a banned organisation, which are in no way a violation of freedom of speech.
Ranaut's lawyer submitted that she would attend the concerned Khar police station on December 22 to record her statement, which the court accepted and posted the next hearing to January 25.