Bathinda court allows Kangana Ranaut to appear via video in defamation case

A Bathinda court on Thursday granted actor and MP Kangana Ranaut exemption from personal appearance in a defamation case linked to her controversial remarks during the farmers’ protest, allowing her to attend future hearings through video conferencing.

The case was filed by Mahinder Kaur, an elderly woman from Punjab, who alleges she was defamed after Ranaut made public comments identifying her during the 2020–21 farmers’ agitation. The matter has been under hearing in a Bathinda court, drawing attention due to its political and social context.

During arguments, Ranaut’s legal counsel told the court that her personal safety could be at risk if she were required to appear in Punjab, requesting that she be permitted to participate remotely. The court accepted the request and directed that Ranaut may appear via video conferencing for all subsequent hearings.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Mahinder Kaur’s lawyer Raghvir Singh Bahniwal said the complainant’s side had pressed for Ranaut’s physical appearance in court. However, the judge ruled that remote appearance would be sufficient at this stage of the proceedings.

The case continues amid broader debate over the use of social media by public figures and the legal limits of political commentary, particularly in relation to mass movements such as the farmers’ protest that saw widespread participation across Punjab and other parts of the country.