Javed Akhtar files an affidavit in Bombay HC: Kangana Ranaut's sole intent is to delay court proceedings

The legal proceeding in the Javed Akhtar defamation case has yet again witnessed a major turn as the lyricist has filed an affidavit in the Bombay High Court. The document states that the petition filed by actor Kangana Ranaut is with the sole intention of delaying the defamation proceedings before the Magistrate Court Andheri filed against her, reported India Today.

It also rules that the contentions of Kangana are completely baseless and unfounded.

"Present Petition is filed with the sole intent to delay the proceedings without there being any basis whatsoever. It is also a matter of fact that for last 5 dates, the Applicant (Ranaut) has not been appearing before the Ld. 10th MM (magistrate court) on one pretext or the other," states the affidavit.

The recent development comes after Ranaut filed a plea before Justice Revati Mohite-Dere to quash criminal defamation proceedings initiated by Javed Akhtar against her in Andheri Magistrate court. She wanted to quash the entire proceedings that included all the orders, summons issued to date on the ground that the same is a direct consequence of cognizance taken by the Magistrate. 

Javed Akhtar opposed her plea and stated that neither order of the Magistrate, including the issuance of process and warrant, required the High Court's interference. 

Kangana did not appear before the court despite the plea submitted by the lyricist and challenged the order of issuing process by Magistrate Court before the Dindoshi Session Court. The Sessions Court had dismissed her plea in April.

Akhtar’s affidavit was submitted by advocate Jay Bharadwaj on Monday to the court, which will be hearing the plea on August 18.