Court imposes Rs.5,000 costs on Dikshit for non-appearance

A court here Monday imposed costs of Rs.5,000 on Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for her non-appearance in a defamation case filed by her against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijender Gupta.

Metropolitan Magistrate Namrita Aggarwal directed Dikshit to appear before court "without giving any excuse" on Jan 27.

In its order, the court said: "The direction that was earlier issued by this court was for the complainant's (Dikshit) appearance for her examination and cross examination in the case lodged by her."

"Now list the matter for further hearing on Jan 27, 2014. The complainant is directed to appear without failing for her examination and cross examination," it said, exempting Dikshit from personal appearance for Monday.

During the hearing, counsel for Dikshit sought exemption for her from appearing saying that she could not appear as she is busy in election meetings for finalising the list of candidates for the upcoming elections.

However, counsel appearing for Gupta contended that the ground sought by Dikshit is ridiculous, specifically in the light of earlier direction of this court.

Gupta is also contesting the upcoming assembly elections but is still present in the court, he noted.

Dikshit had filed the criminal defamation case against Gupta alleging that the BJP leader used "uncivilised" language against her in the run up to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls last year.

On Aug 6 the court framed criminal defamation charges against Gupta, a former chief of the party's Delhi unit.