The Metropolitan Magistrate in Mumbai on Saturday directed the police to probe the defamation complaint filed by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar against actor Kangana Ranaut, and asked them to submit a report on January 16.
Akhtar had filed a complaint against Ranaut following an interview given by her to national news channel Republic TV. According to him, Ranaut’s statements hurt Akhtar’s reputation. The veteran lyricist claimed that his name has been unnecessarily dragged in connection to the unfortunate death of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
He added that Ranaut had called him part of an alleged suicide gang and claimed in the interview that Akhtar threatened her that she will have no option but to take her own life, if she didn’t back out.
The complaint also said that Kangana had claimed that Javed Akhtar had warned her not to speak about her alleged relationship with actor Hrithik Roshan.
Akhtar has sought cognizance for the offence of defamation committed by Ranaut and punishable under the Indian Penal Code.
Akhtar’s lawyer Niranjan Mundargi argued for action on the complaint and asked the court to take cognizance of the same as Javed Akhtar has built his reputation from scratch in the last 55 years.
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After hearing the matter, the court directed the police to investigate the complaint by Akhtar.