Non-bailable warrants issued against Punjab minister

Non-bailable warrants were today issued against a Punjab minister by a local court here in connection with a defamation case filed by two advocates.
The warrants were issued by the court of Judicial Magistrate against Punjab Minister for Local Bodies Anil Joshi.
Two practising advocates of District Court Sandip Gorsi and Vaneet Mahajan had filed separate defamation complaints against the BJP minister, claiming that he had called them blackmailers after they blamed him for the demolition of their building. The minister had claimed that the allegation made by them was not true.
The case had been pending in the court for the past several months as Joshi was not appearing for hearings.

Today, the court observed that Joshi was deliberately not appearing before it and issued non-bailable warrants.
Addressing a press conference, advocates Sandip Gorsi and Vaneet Mahajan said the orders were issued on Saturday and the court today issued the certified copy of the orders.

On being contacted, Anil Joshi said he had filed an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the quashing of the case. The appeal was pending.
He said he was out of station on May 3 and so was unable to appear in the court.
Joshi, however, said he had great regard for the court and he would appear before it along with his advocate for relief.