A court in Mumbai directed the police on Saturday to probe the defamation complaint filed by Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar against actor Kangana Ranaut, PTI reported. The court has asked Juhu police to submit the report on January 16, PTI reported, quoting Akhtar’s lawyer Niranjan Mundargi.

The lyricist had filed a criminal complaint against Ranaut, last month, accusing her of making defamatory and baseless comments against him on national television. 

Also read: Javed Akhtar files complaint against Kangana Ranaut for ‘baseless’ comments

He had sought action against the actor under relevant sections of the law.

In his complaint, Akhtar has alleged that Ranaut dragged his name while referring to a “coterie” existing in Bollywood following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June this year.

She had also claimed that Akhtar had threatened her to not speak about her alleged relationship with actor Hrithik Roshan, it said.

All these statements made by Ranaut have garnered views in lakhs and thus tarnished Akhtar’s reputation, the complaint added.

The 75-year old lyricist’s lawyer argued on Saturday that Akhtar has built his reputation from scratch in the last 55 years.

Also read: ‘Ek Thi Sherni’: Kangana Ranaut on defamation case filed by Javed Akhtar

He said that Ranaut made baseless comments against Akhtar on national television and social media, causing damage to his reputation.

Akhtar was present at the proceeding, according to PTI.