Key Points
- Agra court accepts revision petition, allows sedition case against BJP MP Kangana Ranaut to proceed
- Case filed over August 24, 2024 interview claiming “rapes and murders” occurred during farmers’ protest
- Kangana allegedly called farmers “terrorists,” “rioters,” and compared protest to Bangladesh situation
- Six summons issued but actress-turned-politician yet to appear in court
- Lower court previously dismissed case; will now hear matter afresh under Special Judge Lokesh Kumar
- Charges include Sections 356 and 152 for insulting farmers; sedition under Section 124A also sought
- Complainant advocate Ramashankar Sharma cites hurt sentiments of millions of farmers nationwide
Agra: In a significant judicial development, the court of Special Judge MP-MLA Lokesh Kumar in Agra accepted a revision petition on Wednesday, November 13, clearing the path for criminal proceedings against Kangana Ranaut. The judge had reserved the order on November 10 after hearing arguments from Ranaut’s legal team, which included Supreme Court advocate Anusuya Chaudhary, along with lawyers Sudha Pradhan and Vivek Sharma.
The ruling marks a crucial turn in the controversy, as the court observed that the complaint required reconsideration and directed that the case proceed before the same lower court that had earlier dismissed it. Legal observers note this decision is particularly significant as it opens the door for criminal proceedings against a sitting Member of Parliament, potentially setting a precedent for how public statements by elected representatives are scrutinized.
The Controversial Interview That Sparked Outrage
The controversy erupted from Kangana Ranaut’s interview with a Hindi vernacular publication on August 24, 2024, in which she made inflammatory statements about the farmers’ protest movement. According to court documents, she allegedly stated, “If our top leadership hadn’t been strong, Punjab could have become another Bangladesh during the farmers’ protest. Rioters were spreading violence in the name of farmers. Rapes and murders were taking place there.”
Ranaut went further by suggesting that the withdrawal of the controversial farm bills was a concession, claiming “these rioters would have suffered greatly” otherwise. She also referenced the film “Udta Punjab” while alleging that drug mafias, religious conversion gangs, and Khalistani supporters were flourishing in Punjab during the protest period. These remarks equated peaceful protesters with violent extremists, a characterization that advocacy groups and farming communities vehemently rejected.
Farmer-Advocate Files Sedition Complaint
Advocate Ramashankar Sharma, president of the Agra Bar Association, filed the complaint on September 11, 2024, after initially approaching the Police Commissioner and New Agra Police Station on August 31, 2024, without any FIR being registered. Sharma, who comes from a farming family with 30 years of agricultural experience, argued that Ranaut’s words “deeply hurt our sentiments and those of crores of farmers across the country.”
The petition demands that sedition charges under Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code be filed against the actress-turned-politician, alongside charges under Sections 356 and 152 for allegedly insulting farmers. Sharma contended that by alleging rapes and murders during the protests, Ranaut effectively labeled farmers as “murderers, rapists, terrorists, and extremists,” which constitutes a grave insult to the farming community that forms the backbone of India’s economy.
Pattern of Controversial Statements on National Issues
This is not the first time Kangana Ranaut’s statements have landed her in legal trouble. The current petition also references her November 7, 2021 remark in which she allegedly claimed that India attained “real independence” only in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came to power, while describing the 1947 freedom as “begged for” through Mahatma Gandhi’s efforts.
Advocate Sharma argued that such statements “belittle the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes,” including Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, and other freedom fighters, and “spread divisive ideas.” The combination of her remarks on farmers and on India’s independence movement forms the basis for invoking sedition charges, which carry serious legal consequences, including potential imprisonment.
BJP Repeatedly Distances Itself From MP’s Remarks
Kangana Ranaut’s controversial statements have repeatedly forced the BJP to issue clarifications distancing the party from her views. In September 2024, when she suggested reinstating the three farm laws that were repealed following massive protests, the BJP quickly emphasized that her comments were personal views and did not reflect the party’s official position.
The party has urged the Mandi MP to exercise restraint in making such statements, particularly on sensitive issues like farmers’ protests that have deep political ramifications across northern India. Despite these warnings, Ranaut has continued to make provocative statements, leading Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to suggest that the BJP is using her as a “test balloon” to gauge public reaction to controversial positions.
Six Summons Ignored, Legal Team Represents Absent MP
Despite six summons issued by the court, Kangana Ranaut has not appeared personally for any hearing in the case. Her legal defense has been handled by a team of senior advocates, including Supreme Court lawyer Anusuya Chaudhary, while the complainant’s side is represented by senior advocates Sukhbir Singh Chauhan, Rajveer Singh, B.S. Faujdar, Durge Vijay Singh, Surendra Lakhan, and Umesh Joshi.
The court’s acceptance of the revision petition means that Ranaut will now have to address these charges in the lower court proceedings. Legal experts note that her continued absence could complicate her defense, particularly in a case involving serious charges like sedition and inciting communal disharmony.
Historical Context: Previous Sedition Case
This is not Ranaut’s first encounter with sedition charges. In 2020, she and her sister Rangoli Chandel faced an FIR under sedition and other charges related to social media posts. The Bombay High Court had granted them interim protection from arrest and questioned the invocation of sedition charges, asking, “If someone does not fall in line with the government, then can sedition charges be invoked?”
That case involved allegations of “trying to create hatred and communal tension” through posts on Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, the Palghar lynching incident, and comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The court had observed that while fundamental speech rights exist, they come with restrictions ensuring one’s rights don’t infringe upon others’ rights.
What Lies Ahead: Trial in Lower Court
With the revision petition accepted, the case will return to the lower court for trial proceedings. The court will decide whether to formally register charges of sedition under Section 124A, defamation, and promoting enmity against Kangana Ranaut. The next hearing date has been set for November 28, when the court will seek a response from Ranaut on the complaint.
Legal analysts suggest this case underscores ongoing scrutiny over public statements by prominent personalities on sensitive social issues. The outcome could have implications for how elected representatives and public figures are held accountable for inflammatory remarks about mass movements and national issues. For Kangana Ranaut, the resumption of proceedings in the lower court means her legal troubles could intensify significantly in the coming months.
