New Delhi: Alleging threat to their life from Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, actress Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of four criminal cases pending against them in various Mumbai courts to Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

The sisters submitted that “frivolous” cases were lodged to harass them and malign their reputation and pointed out an incident when Kangana was publicly abused by Shiv Sena members. She also sought transfer of the defamation case lodged against her by famed lyricist Javed Akthar.

“Shiv Sena will leave no stone unturned to eliminate the petitioners herein, because of petitioner no. 1’s (Kangana) continuous outspokenness against the wrongs done by the Sena in collusion with big names of Bollywood,” the petition said, while giving reasons for the apex court to consider their plea to transfer the trial out of Maharashtra.

“All the FIRs and complaints in question are frivolous and have been filed with a malicious intent to harass the petitioners and malign their public image. While the petitioners have utmost respect for the courts of the country and are ready to face trial as per law, they apprehend that if the trials are conducted in Mumbai, there will be a material threat to life and property of the petitioners,” it said.

Kangana said that she had been granted Y-plus CRPF category security by the centre in view of the threat perception and that it may not be possible for them to face trial in Maharashtra as her life would be in danger.

“It is pertinent to mention that the Maharashtra government led by Shiv Sena has been harassing the petitioners. It would not be out of context to mention that the petitioner was called ‘haramkhor ladki’ by Sanjay Raut, who is a senior Shiv Sena leader and a member of Parliament. Further, the Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had illegally demolished the Pali Hill bungalow of the petitioner,” the petition stated.