A Mumbai court on Tuesday gave actor Kangana Ranaut a “last chance” for exemption from appearance in a defamation case filed by writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar, saying she must be present on the next date without fail.

As a “last chance”, a magistrate court on Tuesday allowed actor Kangana Ranaut’s plea for exemption from appearance in the defamation case filed against her by writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar. “Exemption application filed by advocate for accused is granted for today as a last chance and the advocate is directed to keep the accused present on next date without fail,” the court said. The matter will come up for hearing on September 1.

The court also rejected a plea submitted by Akhtar’s lawyer for issuance of a non-bailable warrant against Ranaut. The court, however, said, “On failure of accused to remain present before the court on next date, they (complainant) may file application for warrant against her.”

Submitted in November through advocate Niranjan Mundargi, Akhtar’s plea had said he was shocked when he learnt on July 19, 2020, that Ranaut had given an interview to Arnab Goswami of Republic TV and Republic Bharat, damaging his “immaculate reputation by falsely attributing statements to him”.

The plea further said that during the interview, which lasted approximately 57 minutes, Ranaut proceeded to give her opinions on the circumstances around actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death without appearing to have any direct personal knowledge of these. The plea also said in the same interview she referred to Akhtar as being part of an alleged “suicide gang”.