Karnataka HC dismisses FIR against Kangana Ranaut for tweets on Farmers Protest

Bengaluru, March 26: In the major relief to the Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut, Karnataka High Court dismissed FIR registered against her for controversial tweets on the farmers protest. The single bench of Justice HP Sandesh hearing the case quashed an FIR observing the magistrate acted mechanically without examing if the offense were made out.

 

During the hearing, Justice Sandesh orally observed that it has become common nowadays to make such comments/allegations [on social media] and celebrities need to exhibit restrain. “Who gave you the power to make such allegations? What would you have done if someone uttered the same words against you,” the Judge orally asked her advocate.

 

 

On October 9, 2020, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, had directed the jurisdictional Police Station (Kyathasandra) to lodge an FIR against actress Kangana Ranaut for her tweet on the recent farmer protests. In the tweet, she had referred to those protesting the three farm laws as ‘terrorists’. Following the order passed by the JMFC Court, Ranaut moved the High Court seeking to quash the FIR.

 

 

The High Court in its order noted that the magistrate had not mentioned whether averments made in the complaint (before the Magistrate) amounted to a cognizable offense or not. It concluded that the order was mechanical and therefore sent the matter back to the Magistrate for consideration afresh. The High Court underscored on Thursday that its order was passed not on merits but procedural aspects.

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