The political controversy involving “Mahender ji” centers on a long-running defamation case between actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and an elderly farmer named Mahinder Kaur from Punjab. The case stems from a social media post made by Ranaut during the 2020-21 farmers’ protests.
🧑🌾 Who is Mahinder Kaur?
Mahinder Kaur is a 78-year-old farmer from Bahadurgarh Jandian village in Bathinda district, Punjab . Despite owning 13 acres of land, she lives a modest life, cooking on a traditional chulha (wood stove) and caring for her ailing 80-year-old husband Labh Singh and bedridden son . Her daughter-in-law passed away about a year and a half ago, leaving her to shoulder the family’s responsibilities .
📜 The Origin of the Controversy
The controversy began in December 2020 during the farmers’ protest against the now-repealed farm laws . Here’s what happened:
- The mistaken identity: Kangana Ranaut shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) containing a photograph of Mahinder Kaur at a protest site
- The false claim: Ranaut misidentified Kaur as Bilkis Bano, an elderly woman who was at the forefront of the Shaheen Bagh protests in Delhi against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
- The derogatory remark: In her comment, Ranaut alleged that such women were “available for Rs 100” to attend protests, suggesting they were paid participants
- The deletion: The post was later deleted following widespread outrage
⚖️ The Legal Battle
Mahinder Kaur filed a defamation complaint in January 2021, stating that her dignity and reputation had been harmed . What followed was a nearly five-year legal battle:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 2021 | Mahinder Kaur files defamation complaint in Bathinda court |
| February 2022 | Judicial magistrate issues summons directing Ranaut to appear in court |
| July 2022 | Ranaut approaches Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to quash the complaint |
| September 2025 | Supreme Court refuses to entertain Ranaut’s plea; her counsel withdraws petition |
| October 27, 2025 | Ranaut appears in Bathinda court, tenders apology, and is granted bail |
| November 24, 2025 | Court frames charges against Ranaut in the case |
🤝 The Apology and Reactions
When Ranaut appeared in court on October 27, 2025, she apologized with folded hands . Since Mahinder Kaur was unwell and could not attend, her husband Labh Singh represented her .
Ranaut’s statement to media: “Never in my dreams could I imagine this… Every ‘mata’, be she from Punjab or Himachal, is respectable to me. Whatever misunderstanding happened with the family of Mahinder (Kaur) ji, I gave a message to mata ji through her husband about how she was the victim of a misunderstanding” .
Mahinder Kaur’s response: She rejected the apology, stating it came “too late” and that Ranaut’s “ego broke only after the court summoned her” . Her lawyer added that the family would not accept any apology and would contest the case to its logical conclusion .
📌 Current Status
As of November 2025, charges have been formally framed against Kangana Ranaut in the special MP-MLA court in Bathinda . The case is now moving to the evidence stage, with the next hearing scheduled for December 4, 2025 . Ranaut has sought permanent exemption from personal appearance citing security concerns, but the complainant’s counsel has opposed this plea .
💭 The Human Story Behind the Headlines
What makes this case particularly poignant is Mahinder Kaur’s determination despite personal hardships. As she told reporters: “A farmer’s life is never easy. My son, the youngest, is unwell, my daughter-in-law has gone, leaving behind no child. The house runs on my shoulders now. But I will not step back from this fight” .
Her husband Labh Singh echoed this sentiment: “We will fight the case to its logical conclusion. We are not satisfied with Kangana’s oral apology” .
This case represents a remarkable instance of an ordinary citizen holding a powerful public figure accountable through the legal system, and it continues to unfold in the courts.