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The Bombay High Court on Friday adjourned two different petitions by Actor Kangana Ranaut, one challenging a fresh FIR lodged against her under the Copyright Act and the other for renewal of her passport.

The First Information Report was registered in March, 2021 against producer Kamal Jain, Kangana Ranaut and her siblings Rangoli Chandel and Akshat Ranaut after Ashish Kaul, author of "Didda: The Warrior Queen of Kashmir" who accused them of copyright violation and cheating.

The FIR under IPC sections for cheating, criminal breach of trust and conspiracy and also the Copyright Act was registered by the police following an order passed by a magistrate's court on an application filed by respondent Ashish Kaul.

The Division Bench of Justice Sambhaji Shinde and Justice Govinda Sanap, listed the matter for Monday, due to the paucity of time.

The advocate for petitioner Rizwan Siddiquee argued that the whole FIR was lodged on a false case. Copyright infringement can be there only when there is comparative work. The petitioners have not made any work till now. She (Kangana) had only announced on her social media that she was planning to make a movie on Queen Didda.

He further contended that, “on the basis of the tweet the magistrate ordered FIR against my client. We have not even started the work. He hasn't applied his mind and not considered the copyright act properly. It is a settled law that this act won't apply on historical figures.”

"This case has come up for the first time before the court. Even notices haven't been issued to the authorities to respond in a reasonable time. Why so much hurry?"- Bench to the Advocate

Advocate Siddiqui responded that because of the present FIR and other FIRs lodged in separate cases, his client isn't able to fly to Hungary as her passport expires by September and she won't be able to attend her shooting there. The entire star cast of the film has reached there. Only his client was to reach Hungary on June 15 but she's yet to go there given these FIRs.

Next the advocate Hrishikesh Mundargi represeting producer of the film Dhaakad contended that, "My client is losing Rs 15 lakhs daily. Please consider this aspect.”

Advocate Siddiquee further sought interim protection from coercive action. To this the Bench sought response from public prosecutor Deepak Thakare, who assured that no such action will be taken by the police until Monday.

The Bench adjourned the matter till Monday.

Previously, Kangana had moved to the Bombay High Court seeking permission to get her passport renewed as it expires on September 15 and she has to travel for a film shoot. The actress filed an application saying she needed to travel to Budapest in the month of June for the shooting of 'Dhakkad' and thus, needed her passport renewed. 

Back in October 2020 too, Mumbai’s Bandra police station had filed an FIR against Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel under various sections, including sedition, following a few statements made by the sisters. This FIR has caused the Passport Authority of India to raise objections to her passport renewal.

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