Defamation case: No material to show magistrate acted without fairness, says court on Kangana's transfer plea
While rejecting Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut's request to transfer the defamation case against her, a session’s court in Mumbai ruled that there was no evidence that the metropolitan magistrate acted without "fairness" or had any biases against her. The actor had petitioned for the transfer of a criminal defamation case filed against her by lyricist Javed Akhtar from the Andheri metropolitan magistrate to any other court. The session’s court also denied her request to transfer her cross-complaint against Akhtar to the Andheri court. On March 9, the second additional principal and sessions judge (Dindoshi) S S Oza rejected both of Ranaut's pleas. On Thursday, the detailed order was made available. While rejecting the plea, the court stated that the fear of not receiving a fair and impartial investigation or trial must be "reasonable and not imaginary, based on conjectures and surmises." if it appears that the administration of criminal justice cannot be done impartially, objectively, and without bias before any court," it said, "the court may transfer the case to another court where it believes that holding a fair and proper trial is conducive." The court observed that merely alleging that there is a fear that justice will not be served in the given case is insufficient. In his order, the judge stated that in the absence of any evidence demonstrating a fear that justice will not be served.