MUMBAI: In a detailed order rejecting actor Kangana Ranaut’s plea seeking permanent exemption from attending legal proceedings in a defamation case against her by Bollywood veteran Javed Akhtar, a magistrate’s court held that no doubt, being a celebrity, she had professional assignments, but she cannot forget she was an accused in the case.
The court said till date she has not appeared with an intent to cooperate with it for the trial.
“The accused is dictating her own terms for the trial of this case in the manner she likes. Admittedly, the accused cannot claim permanent exemption as of right. The accused has to follow the established procedure of law and terms and conditions of her bail bonds…” metropolitan magistrate RR Khan said.
“If accused is permanently exempted at this juncture the complainant, a senior citizen (Akhtar), will be seriously prejudiced and there will be no progress in the trial,” the magistrate added.
The magistrate said so far the court had approved all her exemption pleas without imposing cost and no coercive orders were passed despite her repeated absence. “If at this juncture the accused is allowed to remain absent permanently, her earlier conduct furnishes an assurance that she will never ever attend this court,” the court said.