"First You Comply With Office Objections": Karnataka High Court Refuses To Stay Proceedings Against Kangana Ranaut Over Her Remarks On Protesting Farmers

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the proceedings initiated against actress Kangana Ranaut by a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Tumkur, which had on October 9, 2020 directed the jurisdictional Police Station (Kyathasandra) to register FIR against her for her tweet on farmers opposing the Farmers Bill. Ranaut has moved the Karnataka High Court seeking to quash a FIR registered against her. Justice H P Sandesh granted one week time to the petitioner to comply with office objection and posted the matter for further hearing on March 18. Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee appearing for Ranaut sought for a stay on the proceedings initiated. To which the court said "First you comply with the office objection then only we can consider your submissions." A Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Tumkur, had on October 9, 2020 directed the jurisdictional Police Station (Kyathasandra) to register FIR against her. The complaint was filed by advocate Ramesh Naik L under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure alleging that Ranaut has posted a message from her Twitter account '@KanganaTeam' on 21st September 2020 saying: "People who spread misinformation and rumours about CAA that caused riots are the same people who are now spreading misinformation about Farmers bill and causing terror in the nation, they are Terrorists. You very well know what I said but simply like to spread misinformation". The plea alleged that the above content posted by the accused in her twitter account has a clear intention to injure the people who are opposing the Farmers Bills, wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots and promote the culture of non-violence in the young minds of society. Further, it was alleged that the tweet may lead to a collision between different groups. It was submitted that neither the police official nor the government had initiated any action to curb/check these activities suo-moto and failed to register any case against the above named accused. The complainant, therefore, sought registration of FIR for the offences under Sections 153A, 504, 108 of the Indian Penal Code against the actor.

"First You Comply With Office Objections": Karnataka High Court Refuses To Stay Proceedings Against Kangana Ranaut Over Her Remarks On Protesting Farmers

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