A magistrate court in Mumbai has recently summoned renowned Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar to appear before it on August 5.
The summons comes in response to actor Kangana Ranaut’s complaint filed under Sections 506 & 509 of the Indian Penal Code against Akhtar.
The dispute between Ranaut and Akhtar escalated after Akhtar filed a defamation complaint against her following a contentious interview in 2021. In the said interview, Ranaut made allegations, claiming that Akhtar exerted pressure on her to apologize to actor Hrithik Roshan back in 2016. This allegation emerged during a public dispute between Roshan and Ranaut over email exchanges.
Akhtar’s complaint against Ranaut has reached at that level where witnesses are being summoned for their deposition before the court. On Monday, two witnesses were present before the 10th Magistrate’s court.
Dr. Ramesh Agarwal, (doctor for with Akhtar, Ranaut, and the Roshans) provided crucial testimony during the hearing. Agarwal stated that Akhtar approached him regarding the issue of Roshan-Ranaut and suggested a possible settlement between the two. He was also present at a meeting in March 2016, attended by Akhtar, Ranaut, and her sister Rangoli Chandel.
However, Advocate Jay Bharadwaj, representing Akhtar, questioned Agarwal about the meeting and the alleged defamatory words spoken, Agarwal clarified that he was not part of the conversation, being engrossed in phone calls with patients.
The meeting lasted about 20-30 minutes, and before leaving, Javed told her, “Aapko maafi mangni padegi,” (you will have to apologise), said Agarwal. Bharadwaj interjected, “Padegi ya Mangiye is the question.” (‘You will have to apologise’, or ‘you seek forgiveness’, that is the question). Agarwal replied, “Aap maafi mangiye.”
Bharadwaj asked, “Was there any exchange of harsh words?” Agarwal replied in the negative.
Advocate Rizwan Siddiquee, representing Ranaut, conducted a cross-examination of Agarwal. He inquired if the actor requested either Agarwal or Akhtar to mediate in her dispute with Roshan, to which Agarwal responded negatively.
Siddiquee asked, “Is it true to say that, in good faith, you initiated the mediation at the request of Javed Akhtar?” Agarwal replied in the affirmative.
Therefore, Siddiquee asked, “Despite Akhtar’s close association with Hrithik Roshan and his family, the Roshans were not called to the mediation meeting.” Agarwal then replied, “When I went there, they were not present. I don’t know if they were invited or not.”
When asked about the meeting’s agenda, Agarwal stated, “The agenda was that both would apologise to each other. But I did not know that Akhtar would not call the Roshans and only ask Kangana to apologise.”
Further, Siddiquee asked if Ranaut said anything after leaving Akhtar’s residence. “she told me that initially both of us (she and Roshan) were to apologise, but now only I am being asked to apologise. She told me this, and that is why she felt uncomfortable,” said Agarwal.
Siddiquee added, “The meeting did not happen as it was supposed to, and Kangana left the meeting without any resolution.” Agarwal agreed. Siddiquee further stated, “You have known Kangana for 17 years and have found her to be a very obedient and a simple girl?” Agarwal again replied in the affirmative.
Komal Nahata, a film trade analyst, was also cross-examined by Siddiquee.
