Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel regarding an FIR registered against them under sedition and other charges, but directed them to appear before Mumbai Police on January 8. The FIR was lodged following orders passed by the Bandra magistrate's court here directing the police to carry out an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister following a complaint lodged against them for allegedly "trying to create hatred and communal tension" through their social media posts.

"If someone does not fall in line with the government, then can sedition charges be invoked?" the court asked. The HC also said three summonses were issued by the police to the sisters and the same needed to be honored.

"Three summonses have been issued and the applicants (Ranuat and Chandel) have not appeared. When summons are issued, you have to honour them," the court said, adding the police cannot keep looking at their (Ranuat and Chandels) convenience all the time. Ranaut and Chandel's advocate Rizwan Siddiquee told the court that the sisters could not appear as they were not in Maharashtra, and said they were not trying to abscond from the investigation.

He assured the court that Ranaut and Chandel shall appear before the Bandra police in Mumbai on January 8 from 12 pm to 2 pm for the recording of their statements. The court accepted the statement.

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