Mumbai: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel recorded statements with Bandra police in a case of sedition, filed on orders of a Bandra court on October 16, 2020, after Bollywood casting director and fitness trainer Munawwar Ali Sayyed filed a complaint.

Kangana and her sister had filed a petition before Bombay High Court to quash the FIR against them. It gave interim protection to them and told both to be present at Bandra police station on January 8 between noon and 2 pm.

Sayyed had complained that Kangana, in tweets and TV interviews, defamed Hindi film industry by portraying Bollywood as a hub of nepotism, favouritism, drug addicts, communally biased and murderers.

Police had summoned both on October 26 and 27, then on November 9 and 10 respectively, but they said they were busy with a family function at their home town. Both reached the police station around 1pm and left around 3.45 pm after they replied to questionnaires. A police officer told TOI, “All tweets and video statements she posted on social media were part of the list they put for her to answer.”

Their statements will be sent to a high-ranking officer, who will decide if both should be called again. Police said they will decide about it after January 11.

Kangana’s lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, said her statement had been recorded as per an HC order.

Before heading to the police station, Kangana tweeted a 1.30-minute video stating she was targeted for expressing her opinion on issues related to the country’s welfare. “Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation.... I stood for you, it’s time you stand for me... Jai Hind”.

“My house was demolished illegally. When I talk about welfare of farmers, cases are registered against me almost every day. For instance, there is a case against me because I laughed,” she claimed.

She mentioned in the video post a case against Rangoli for speaking against attacks on doctors during initial days of lockdown. “Even my name was added in that case, even though I was not even on Twitter at the time.” She tweeted around 5.30 pm, ‘If you are anti-India you will find lot of support, work/rewards, and appreciation. If you are a nationalist then you will have to stand alone, be your own support system and appreciate your own integrity. After hours of grilling at police station on my way to Bhopal.”

Bandra police registered a case on October 17, 2020, after Sayyed lodged a complaint that tweets and statements of Ranaut and her sister could lead to a communal problem. Kangana and Rangoli were booked under Indian Penal Code sections for common intention, sedition, promoting enmity, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.