FIR against Kangana, sister for ‘communal’ tweets, interviews

Source: Times of India

An FIR was registered against actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel yesterday, a day after the Bandra magistrate court directed the police to conduct investigations against the two for allegedly creating communal tension through tweets and interviews.

The Bandra police registered the FIR under Indian Penal Code Sections as a deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs. After the probe is completed, the police will have to submit a report before the court.

The plea alleged that through her tweets, Ranaut was creating divisions between Hindu and Muslim artistes.
In an order pronounced on Friday, metropolitan magistrate Jaydeo Y Ghule said, “I found the cognizable offence has been committed by the accused. Total allegations are based upon comment on electronic media ie tweets and interviews. The accused used social media like Twitter. Thorough investigations is necessary by the expert.”

He further said Ranaut had been “maliciously bringing religion in almost all her tweets” and cited several examples.
Referring to Chandel, the plea said she too had made an objectionable tweet to spread communal hatred and animosity among the two religious communities.

The court said that all the alleged offences against the accused are cognizable. “Search and seizure is necessary in this case. In such circumstances I found it is proper to pass order under Section 156 (3) (magistrate is empowered to order investigations) of Criminal Procedure Code.”