Appear for hearing or case will be dismissed: Court to Sheila

A city court on Friday directed Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to appear in court for a hearing in her defamation case against Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta or risk dismissal of her complaint.

The next date of hearing is November 9. The court issued the order after Dikshit's advocate submitted an application seeking personal exemption.

Metropolitan Magistrate Navjeet Budhiraja made it clear to the counsel appearing for the Chief Minister that he should ensure her presence on the next date of hearing or the case would be dismissed.

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

During arguments for the exemption application, Dikshit's advocate Mehmood Pracha submitted: "We are seeking exemption as she is busy performing her duties as a public servant." The court said, "She (Dikshit) is like other complainants who have lodged complaints. She needs to appear before the court."

The counsel for Gupta opposed Dikshit's application for exemption from personal appearance, arguing that she had not mentioned any valid ground for the exemption.

"She has been seeking an exemption for every hearing since she filed the complaint," the advocate said.

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