Court summons Kejriwal in defamation case

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) A court here asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and two others on Tuesday to explain why should they be exempted from appearing in court and directed them to be present in a defamation case filed by Surender Kumar Sharma.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh observed that accused persons have not explained any reasonable ground for the plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court and they have no respect of law.

Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav moved their application seeking exemption from personal appearance at the hearing.

Keeping the matter pending for 2 p.m., the court asked them to appear before it on Tuesday.

The complainant, advocate Surender Kumar Sharma had alleged that in 2013 the AAP approached him and asked him to contest the Delhi assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.

On October 14, 2013, Sharma claimed, articles in leading newspapers carried "defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons" which have lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.

The court had earlier reserved the order for Feb 11 and then adjourned it for March 17 on framing of charges against Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav.

All three leaders are at present out on bail.

Sharma said he filled up the application form to contest the polls after Sisodia and Yadav allegedly told him that the AAP's Political Affairs Committee had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him.