Mumbai Court orders police to probe complaint against Kangana, sister for 'objectionable' comments

In a significant development, a Mumbai court has ordered the city police to investigate a complaint against Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel for allegedly spreading communal hatred and falsehoods, officials said on Saturday.

The order by Bandra 12th Court Magistrate Jaidev Ghule came in a plea by Munawwarali alias Sahil A Sayyed, a Bollywood casting director, said his lawyer Ravish F Zamindar. "The court directed the Bandra police station officials to probe the matter under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC and take necessary action," advocate Zamindar said.

Among other things, Sayyed accused Kangana and Rangoli of defaming Bollywood, portraying people working in it in a bad light with claims of nepotism, drug addiction, communal bias, attempting to create a rift between artistes of different communities, insulting religions on social media and through public statements.

Sayyed also accused them of creating a Hindu-Muslim divide through objectionable comments.

When he tried to complain to the Bandra police on September 16, Sayyed claimed police refused to entertain his complaint after which he sent another complaint to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone XI) a fortnight later, pointing out alleged lapses of the Bandra police.

Moving the Bandra court on Thursday, Sayyed prayed for appropriate directions under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC to the Bandra police to register a first information report against the two sisters under the IPC.