File picture of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and party senior Yogendra Yadav have appeared at a Delhi court, which had refused to exempt their presence in connection to a defamation case. Metropolitan Magistrate Mayuri Singh took strong view of absence of Mr Kejriwal, Mr Sisodia and Yogendra Yadav earlier in the day, and said they "have no respect for the law".
The three AAP leaders had sought exemption from personal appearance for the day on the grounds of a lawyers' strike, and that the case was at a crucial stage and the presence of advocates was necessary.
The case was put up before Magistrate Singh as Metropolitan Magistrate Muneesh Garg, before whom the matter was going on, was on leave today.
The court had earlier directed Mr Kejriwal, Mr Sisodia and Mr Yadav to positively appear before it today as it was scheduled to pass order in the issue of framing of charges.
During the hearing, the court said the exemption application displayed no reason for the absence of the accused.
"There is nothing to reflect why accused (Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav) have not appeared. Accused have no respect for law. Considering no one has appeared for accused, I am keeping the matter pending at 2 pm. Call at 2 pm," the magistrate said.
The court noted that a clerk appeared on behalf of the accused and his advocates and moved the exemption plea.
The complainant, advocate Surender Kumar Sharma, opposed the plea, saying the lawyers are on strike and not the litigants and it would not be in the interest of justice if any adjournment is given in the case as the case had earlier been adjourned three times due to absence of the accused.
Mr Sharma had alleged that in 2013, he was approached by volunteers of AAP, who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Mr Kejriwal was pleased with his social service.
He filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Mr Sisodia and Yadav that AAP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him.
On October 14, 2013, the complainant 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, which had earlier reserved its order for February 11, had granted exemption to the three AAP leaders from personal appearance for that day and had given them a last opportunity to positively appear before it today.
Mr Kejriwal had sought exemption from personal appearance for that day on the ground that he had to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the Delhi Assembly elections results, which were announced on February 10.
The summons were issued on the complaint under sections 499, 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, with the court saying there was prima facie material to summon the accused.
While issuing summons against AAP leaders, the court had said, "The press release published in newspapers as well as testimonies of witnesses reflect that defamatory remarks were published in the newspaper which affected the reputation of
the complainant in the society and lowered his reputation in the eyes of other members of the society."
The court had granted bail to Mr Kejriwal, Mr Sisodia and Mr Yadav, after they had appeared before it on June 4 last year, in pursuance to summons against them.