Diskshit told to appear before court

A city court on Friday asked Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to appear before it in a defamation case lodged by her against city BJP chief Vijender Gupta.

A city court on Friday asked chief minister Sheila Dikshit to appear before it in a defamation case lodged by her against city BJP chief Vijender Gupta.

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"Considering the fact that complainant (Dikshit) has not appeared since recording of her statement, she is directed to appear in person otherwise the case of the complainant shall be dismissed," metropolitan magistrate Navjeet Budhiraja said.

Budhiraja told the CM's counsel that he should ensure her presence on the next date of hearing, November 9.

Dikshit had filed the criminal defamation case against Gupta alleging that the BJP leader used "uncivilised" language against her before the April 15 MCD polls. Her counsel Mehmood Pracha submitted that the complainant was following the HC's direction that she could take exemption from personal appearance on valid grounds by moving appropriate application.