Actor Issues Court Apology
BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut appeared in a Bathinda court, Punjab, on Monday in a defamation case linked to her social media post during the 2020-21 farmers’ protest. Kangana clarified that the incident was a misunderstanding and emphasized that she respects all women, especially elderly women, referred to as ‘mata’.
The court case concerns 73-year-old Mahinder Kaur, who alleged that Kangana’s post on X (formerly Twitter) wrongly identified her as Bilkis Bano, a Shaheen Bagh protester. The post suggested that women could be hired to protest for ₹100, which Kaur claimed defamed her.
Apology to Complainant’s Family
Kangana stated that she personally apologized to Mahinder Kaur’s husband in court. She explained that Mahinder Kaur herself was not present during the apology.
She said:
“Whatever misunderstanding occurred with Mahinder Kaur ji’s family, I have clarified it and expressed my respect to her husband. Every ‘mata,’ whether from Punjab or Himachal, is respectable to me.”
The actor further noted that the controversy stemmed from a retweet used as a meme, not from any direct comments she made. She expressed regret over the misunderstanding while maintaining that she did not intend to harm anyone.
Legal Background
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In February 2022, a judicial magistrate in Bathinda summoned Kangana to appear before the court in the defamation case.
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Kangana challenged the summons by approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court in July 2022, requesting quashing of the complaint and the lower court order.
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The High Court dismissed her petition, after which Kangana moved the Supreme Court, which refused to entertain her plea on September 12, 2025.
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Later, Kangana’s legal team withdrew the special leave petition (SLP) in this matter.
Previous Controversies
This defamation case follows several incidents related to Kangana’s remarks on the farmers’ protest:
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In 2024, Kangana was reportedly slapped by a female constable at Chandigarh airport during a mandatory security check, connected to her earlier comments on the farmers’ protest.
Key Takeaways
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Kangana Ranaut has publicly apologized for the misunderstanding involving Mahinder Kaur.
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She emphasized respect for all women (‘mata’) and clarified that the post was misinterpreted.
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The case is part of ongoing scrutiny over her social media remarks during the farmers’ protest.
