Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel had been summoned thrice by the Mumbai Police in the sedition case registered against them.
The sisters had moved the Bombay High Court to quash the FIR that alleged that they tried ‘to create hatred and communal tension’ through their social media.
Today, the Bombay HC heard the sister’s plea and granted them interim protection from arrest by the Mumbai Police in the sedition case. The case was heard by two-judge bench of Justices Shinde and M S Karnik.
As per HT report, Justice SS Shinde asked -“Why is the sedition section invoked? Why are we treating citizens of our country like this?”
The high court has now directed Kangana and Rangoli to appear before Mumbai Police on January 8. Their lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee assured the court that they would appear before the police on the given date, from 12 noon to 2 pm and record their statements.
“We are of the prima facie opinion that interim protection till the matter is heard at length deserves to be granted. The police shall not take any coercive action including arrest against the applicants (Ranaut and Chandel),” the Court said.
The High Court said it would consider the issue at length on the next date and posted the matter for further hearing on January 11.
The complaint against the Ranaut sisters was lodged by casting director Munawwar Ali. Post that an FIR was registered under IPC Sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 295-A (deliberate acts hurting religious sentiments) and 124-A (sedition), 34 (common intention).