Bhujbal's lawyer, Jayant Jaibhave, said none of the accused, Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Subhash Desai (editor, executive editor and publisher of the Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, respectively) appeared in court today.

During previous hearings, the court had asked whether the complainant was prepared for reconciliatory proceedings. Bhujbal replied, saying he would withdraw the case if Thackeray publicly apologised and published his statements in newspapers. Thackeray, however, rejected the offer.

Bhujbal, who was present in court today, raised objections to the absenteeism of the accused and requested an early hearing. The magistrate adjourned the hearing to November 16.

Bhujbal had filed a defamation case against the trio on September 4, 1997,accusing them of publishing defamatory reports in Saamna dated July 23 and 24, 1997. The reports had accused Bhujbal of masterminding the desecration of a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at Ramabai Nagar at Ghatkopar in Mumbai. The incident had sparked protests from local Dalits and the subsequent firing by the State Reserve Police Force resulted in the death of 11 Dalits on July 11, 1997.

The reports in Saamna were based on an affidavit filed by Rajendra Agarwal from Shahada (Dhule), who claimed he was a close associate of Bhujbal. He had accused Bhujbal of instigating the statue's desecration and even asked him to execute the deed, he claimed. Agarwal, however, says he refused.

According to Bhujbal, while other newspapers reported the contents of Agarwal's affidavit, Saamna chose to provoke the Dalit community by projecting him as an enemy of the Dalits, alleging that he had indeed masterminded the desecration.