Mumbai: An additional chief metropolitan magistrate on Thursday rejected a plea made by actor Kangana Ranaut for transfer of veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar’s defamation complaint against her to another magistrate.

Last month Ranaut’s lawyer, Rizwan Siddiquee, moved a plea seeking a transfer of the case from the in-charge court on the grounds that she has “lost faith” in it. He said they were “not comfortable” before the court and felt it was “biased against her.” Siddiquee said they will challenge Thursday’s order.

Akhtar had filed the defamation complaint against Ranaut in November 2020 before the Andheri magistrate’s court. 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”.

Ranaut appeared before the in-charge court last month after the court repeatedly summoned her. On Wednesday in his arguments for the transfer, Siddiquee submitted that the Andheri court magistrate had all the powers to decide on applications which were before him for adjudication, however he allegedly summoned her and chose to say he may issue an arrest warrant without giving any sufficient cause and reasons in writing.

Akhtar’s advocate Jay Bharadwaj seeking dismissal of her plea said it is not maintainable and lacking in any legal basis. He said she was not present on several occasions and her plea could not be recorded after cognizance was taken by the Magistrate. Bharadwaj said Akhtar, being a senior citizen, has been diligently present on each and every date of hearing.

Ranaut has also filed a case against Akhtar. In her complaint, Ranaut has accused him of extortion and criminal intimidation among other charges. She alleged that in a public dispute with Hrithik Roshan, Akhtar called her sister and her to his Juhu house, and threatened and forced her to tender a written apology.