Actor Kangana Ranaut is set to return to Mumbai from her hometown in Himachal Pradesh today. The actor is at the centre of a heated political row with Maharashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena and its coalition partners over her remark comparing Mumbai to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Kangana Ranaut, who was recently given Y category security after she said she was being threatened, will land in Mumbai on Wednesday and will be guarded by 11 CRPF personnel.
While the BMC has reportedly said actor Kangana Ranaut will be home quarantined for a week upon her return to the city, Kangana Ranaut's second coronavirus test report came out to be negative on Tuesday, paving way for her journey to Mumbai.
Here are the LIVE UPDATES on Kangana Ranaut-Shiv Sena faceoff:
8.36 am: Kangana Ranaut’s tweet on Mumba Devi ahead of her arrival in Maharashtra
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— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) September 9, 2020
8.20 am: Kangana Ranaut's coronavirus test report came out negative. Himachal government authorities had said that they will only allow Kangana to move out of Manali if she tests negative for Covid-19.
Actor Kangana Ranaut has tested negative for #COVID19: Dr Devender Sharma, Chief Medical Officer, Mandi District. #HimachalPradesh
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2020
8.05 am: Kangana Ranaut leaves for Mumbai. The nearest airport in Manali is located at Bhuntar, Kullu and the only flight between Mumbai and Kullu will leave at 11:30 on Tuesday. There are no flights on Wednesday.
Himachal Pradesh: Actor Kangana Ranaut leaves from Bhanwla village in Mandi District for Chandigarh.
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2020
From Chandigarh, she will be leaving for Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/un6YrNvbnG
7.58 am: Karni Sena has extended support towards the actor and said they will be escorting Kangana Ranaut from Mumbai airport to her home.
7.45 am: Kangana Ranaut is scheduled to return to Mumbai today. Earlier, in a tweet, the actor had said she would be returning to Mumbai on September 9 and had dared anyone to stop her.
Following this, Sena MLA Pratap Saranik hit back with a slap threat and said she should be arrested for sedition.
7.30 am: Kangana Ranaut came under all-round fire after she likened Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and made critical remarks against the city police.
KANGANA TO FACE 'DRUG LINK' PROBE; OFFICE UNDER BMC LENS
Amid the controversy over her comment that she "feared" the Mumbai Police, Kangana Ranaut was given Y category security. The decision came after Kangana Ranaut likened Mumbai to PoK and said that she plans to visit Mumbai on September 9. Kangana Ranaut’s comments led to a spat with Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut which snowballed into a controversy.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut purportedly said, "We kindly request her not to come to Mumbai. This is nothing but an insult to Mumbai Police." Hitting back, Ranaut tweeted, "Why is Mumbai feeling like Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir?"
Already under fire over her remarks on Mumbai, trouble mounted for actress Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday as the Maharashtra government said the police will probe allegations that she took drugs. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Tuesday the Mumbai Police will probe allegations by actor Adhyayan Suman that Ranaut took drugs.
The development came in the backdrop of Rhea Chakraborty's arrest by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for alleged drug use. The NCB is probing the alleged drugs angle in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
Amidst these developments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Tuesday posted a notice at Ranaut’s Pali Hill office, pointing out many alterations undertaken in the building without the civic body’s approval, a claim rejected by her. The BMC has asked Kangana Ranaut to tell it within 24 hours if she had taken approvals for changes in her residence. Kangana had earlier taken to Twitter to share videos of her office premises here and expressed apprehension that the BMC may demolish the property.
CRITICISM FOR POK REMARK CONTINUES
The actor, meanwhile, continued to face criticism for her remarks on Mumbai and its police.
Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday condemned the remarks made by Kangana Ranaut and said they amounted to "insult" of the police force.
Kangana Ranaut had said that she feared Mumbai Police more than the "movie mafia", and would prefer security either from Himachal Pradesh or the Centre.
The Leader of the Opposition said he knew the capacity of the Mumbai police since had had served as chief minister of the state for five years. "But, the police can come under political pressure," Fadnavis said.