Bathinda, Punjab: Actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut was granted bail by a Bathinda court on Monday in a defamation case filed against her by Mahinder Kaur, an elderly woman farmer. The case stems from Kangana’s controversial social media post made during the 2020–21 farmers’ protest, which allegedly contained a derogatory remark.
Kangana Ranaut Says It Was a “Misunderstanding”
After appearing in court, Kangana addressed the media, calling the matter a “misunderstanding.” The actress claimed she never intended to hurt anyone and that her viral post was a retweet of a meme circulating during the farmers’ protest.
“This is just a misunderstanding. I had only retweeted a meme and did not intend to hurt anyone. I have already discussed the matter with Mahinder Kaur’s husband and apologised to him as she was not present today,” Kangana said outside the court.
The BJP MP added that during the protests, several memes were shared online, and one of them was retweeted by mistake.
Court Proceedings and Legal Updates
Kangana’s counsel sought a permanent exemption from personal appearance on security grounds, but the complainant’s lawyer, Raghbir Singh Behniwal, opposed the request. He also disputed Kangana’s claim of having apologised earlier.
“Kangana said she retweeted by mistake, but my client’s husband Labh Singh has stated that she never apologised before,” Behniwal told reporters.
The case has now been transferred to a Special Court (Judicial Magistrate First Class), with the next hearing scheduled for November 24.
Last month, Kangana’s plea to appear via video conferencing was rejected, and she was directed to attend the hearing in person on October 27. She arrived amid tight security, with multiple police barricades and officials deployed around the court complex.
Security Tightened in Bathinda
Superintendent of Police Narinder Singh confirmed that extra precautions were taken to prevent any disturbances during the court appearance.
“Our main focus is to ensure that law and order remain intact,” he said.
Background: The Controversial Tweet
The defamation case dates back to 2021, when Kangana allegedly shared a tweet comparing Mahinder Kaur, a farmer from Bathinda’s Bahadurgarh Jandian village, to Bilkis Bano, a prominent face of the Shaheen Bagh protests.
In the tweet, Kangana reportedly suggested that such women were “available for ₹100” to join protests — a comment that sparked massive outrage across social media and political circles.
Following the backlash, Mahinder Kaur filed a defamation complaint, stating that the post had damaged her dignity and reputation.
Legal Journey So Far
2022: The Bathinda court issued a summons for Kangana to appear.
2023: Kangana approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking to quash the defamation complaint, but her plea was dismissed.
2024: The Supreme Court also declined to entertain her petition on September 12, after which her counsel withdrew the Special Leave Petition (SLP).
Past Controversies
This case is one among several controversies linked to the farmers’ protest. In a separate 2024 incident, a CISF woman constable reportedly slapped Kangana at the Chandigarh airport, allegedly over her earlier remarks about the protest.
Conclusion
Kangana Ranaut’s apology marks the latest chapter in a case that has been ongoing for nearly four years. While she has expressed regret and labelled the controversy as a misunderstanding, the court will continue proceedings on November 24 to determine the outcome of the defamation charges.
