Mumbai(PTI): Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut failed to appear before the Mumbai Police on Wednesday in connection with an FIR registered against her for a post that allegedly linked farmers' protests to a separatist group, an official said.

An FIR was registered against Ranaut at Khar police station last month following a complaint by a Sikh organisation.

The police earlier this month issued a notice to her for questioning. Her counsel had told the Bombay High Court that she would appear before the Khar police on December 22.

On Wednesday, her lawyer sought another date for appearance.

"Going by the spirit, aim and intent of the high court order, we requested the investigation officer for an earlier date and wanted to expedite process before the next court hearing. However, the investigation officer was not willing to accommodate us. He neither responded to my messages or calls nor did he revert on the letter which was served on him immediately after the order, Ranaut's lawyer Rizwan Sidiquee said.

"Now my client will appear before him on another earliest date as may be available. If the officer does not accommodate us, then we will leave it to the high court to decide on the matter on merits, he said.

The city police had earlier told the Bombay High Court that they will not arrest Ranaut till January 25, 2022 over her social media post that allegedly linked farmers' protests to a separatist group.

The police had made the statement after the HC said the issue involved the larger question of Ranaut's fundamental right to free speech and that the court will have to grant her some ad-interim relief.

Ranaut approached the HC earlier this month, seeking that the FIR registered against her at Khar police station be quashed.

The FIR was registered against the actor following a complaint made by some members of a Sikh body that claimed Ranaut, through her Instagram post, had portrayed the farmers' protest on Delhi borders as a Khalistani movement.

The police then booked Ranaut on charges of deliberately hurting the community's religious sentiments, under Section 295-A of the Indian Penal Code.

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New Delhi: In a recent interview titled "Jab We Met," Rahul Kanwal of India Today engaged in a conversation with Kanhaiya Kumar, the Congress-AAP alliance candidate from the North East Delhi constituency. As they strolled through the streets of North East Delhi, Kanahiya’s adept responses dismantled Kanwal's biased questioning. 

 

Throughout the interview, Kanwal's line of questioning appeared to lean heavily towards praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, showcasing his support rather than challenging it. However, Kanhaiya skillfully dismantled this bias, particularly highlighting the role of the Congress party in shaping online money transfer systems.

 

In a notable exchange, Kanwal attempted to dismiss a local vendor's concerns about reduced business post-Covid by saying that you are standing outside the Congress campaign office and hence you will say so. However Kanhaiya immediately countered and stated that he had opened the campaign office 14 days back but the vendor was there from the past 14 years. Further Kanhaiya made Kanwal pay the vendor through UPI, a move that visibly surprised the interviewer. To this Rahul who is fond of and used to living at the expense of the politicians of whom he sings praises is seen saying that this is the first time that any leader is making me pay as normally leaders are the one's paying.

 

Kanwal's interview with Kanhaiya made the netizens ask some very sharp questions on the integrity of the media in India. 

 

One user tweeted, “

“PROPAGANDA EXPOSED 

Rahul Kanwal was interviewing Kanhaiya Kumar and praising Narendra Modi for UPI payments.

Kanhaiya torn apart his propaganda in just 40 seconds and explained how Congress shaped online money transfer. 

Shameless @rahulkanwal was batting for BJP in whole interview like normal Godi anchor. 

Well done #KanhaiyaKumar  ” 

 

Another tweeted, Shame on @rahulkanwal, he is literally insulting and doubting a poor vendor just because he said business has gone down due to factories in the neighborhood closing post-Covid

Some other reactions by netizens can be seen below :