Munish Sood
Mandi
Bollywood actor and BJP Member of Parliament from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, once again found herself at the centre of controversy—this time in a Bathinda courtroom—over her 2020 tweet that allegedly misidentified a protesting farmer woman during the peak of the farmers’ agitation.
Appearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Bathinda on Monday, Kangana said she never intended to defame anyone and that the tweet in question was not originally composed by her. She described it as a “general meme” circulating online that she happened to retweet, which later created an unexpected uproar.
Speaking to the media outside the court, the Mandi MP said,
“I’m happy to be in Bathinda today. The crowd here shows the affection people have for me. I have already reached out to the family of Mahinder Kaur Ji and conveyed my regret for the misunderstanding. I could never imagine such a small online mix-up would be blown out of proportion.”
When asked whether she accepted her mistake, Kangana replied that the post lacked any personal remarks from her side.
“It was not my original post. I simply shared what was already circulating online. Once I realised the confusion, I spoke to her husband and clarified my intent. There was no malice involved,” she said.
Court Proceedings and Response
Kangana appeared before the court after being summoned in the defamation case filed by Mahinder Kaur, the elderly farmer woman who had objected to Kangana’s 2020 remarks. Her legal team submitted a bail bond, and inside the courtroom, the MP expressed her desire to apologize for the misunderstanding that led to the controversy.
Advocate Raghubir Singh Beniwal, representing Mahinder Kaur, said that while Kangana has shown regret, his client’s husband attended the hearing in her place due to her ill health.
“He told the court that this is not just about one individual but concerns the pride of the entire farming community. The family will discuss the next step with farmer leaders before taking a call,” Beniwal said.
The matter has been adjourned till November 24 for the next hearing.
Farmers’ Reaction and Public Sentiment
Outside the courtroom, reactions were divided. While Kangana’s supporters thronged the venue with cheers, farmer groups maintained that the issue cannot be settled merely within court walls.
Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Manjeet Rai demanded that the MP should personally visit Mahinder Kaur’s home and seek forgiveness face-to-face.
“A tweet that insulted farmers across the country cannot be undone by a few words in court. She should come and apologize in person,” Rai asserted.
Background: When a Tweet Sparked a Storm
The controversy dates back to December 2020, when, during the farmers’ protest, Kangana posted a tweet identifying 82-year-old Mahinder Kaur as Shaheen Bagh protester Bilkis Bano, adding a remark suggesting that some women were paid to attend protests. The tweet drew widespread outrage from the farming community and was later deleted, but by then, the damage was done.
Mahinder Kaur subsequently filed a defamation complaint against Kangana, leading to legal proceedings that have continued over the years.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court refused to quash the case, observing that Kangana’s comments went beyond a mere retweet. The bench had remarked,
“You added spice to it. This is not a simple retweet.”
Following this, Kangana withdrew her plea and agreed to face trial in Bathinda.
Symbolism and Political Undertones
As a BJP MP representing Mandi, Kangana’s appearance in a Punjab courtroom carried political and symbolic weight. For many farmer groups, it revived memories of the 2020 protests and the perceived insensitivity of celebrity remarks at the time.
For her supporters, however, the episode is being seen as an example of online misinterpretation turning into legal harassment.
The case, now entering its crucial phase, stands as a reminder of how social media comments from public figures can escalate far beyond the digital space — shaping perceptions, politics, and public sentiment in equal measure.
