The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed Kangana Ranaut’s plea seeking to quash a defamation case filed against her in connection with a controversial tweet posted during the farmers’ protest. The tweet, which drew widespread attention and criticism, compared an elderly woman protester, Mahinder Kaur, to a Shaheen Bagh activist and alleged she was available for hire for Rs 100, sparking outrage among protestors and supporters alike.
Kangana Ranaut, now a Member of Parliament from Mandi, had filed a petition requesting the court to quash the criminal complaint under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, along with the summoning order and subsequent proceedings. However, the High Court found no merit in her plea and ruled that the trial must proceed.
The tweet at the heart of the controversy was a retweet of a post by user Gautam Yadav, which included a photo of Mahinder Kaur, the complainant. In her retweet, Ranaut wrote, “Ha ha ha she is the same dadi who featured in Time magazine for being the most powerful Indian…. And she is available in 100 rupees. Pakistani jurno’s have hijacked international PR for India in an embarrassing way. We need our own people to speak for us internationally.”
The complainant, Mahinder Kaur, a farmer from Bathinda, alleged in her complaint that Ranaut’s statement falsely identified her as a participant in the Shaheen Bagh protests and demeaned her dignity. She stated she had no affiliation with any protest besides the farmers’ agitation and emphasized that the tweet not only tarnished her image but also subjected her to public humiliation and mental trauma.
Represented by senior advocate G.K. Mann along with Aditya Dassaur and Armaan Sandhu, Kaur approached the Judicial Magistrate First Class in Bathinda with her defamation claim. She asserted that the tweet misrepresented her identity, wounded her reputation among fellow protestors, and caused immense emotional distress.
After evaluating the facts and arguments presented, the bench of Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya ruled against Kangana Ranaut. The court refused to accept the argument for quashing the case and maintained that there was a prima facie case to be tried.
With this ruling, the court has affirmed the importance of accountability in public statements made by individuals with significant social influence. The proceedings will now continue before the lower court, where the merits of the defamation complaint will be fully examined.
The case marks another chapter in Ranaut’s legal battles following her entry into active politics. While her supporters claim she is being targeted for speaking her mind, critics argue that public figures must exercise greater responsibility while commenting on sensitive issues. The verdict also underscores the judiciary’s recognition of the right of ordinary citizens to seek redress when their dignity is allegedly compromised by those in positions of power.