File photo of Digvijaya Singh.
A Delhi court today issued a bailable warrant against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for his failure to appear before the court in connection with a criminal defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha also directed Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who had filed the plea in 2012, to be present in court on November 10, warning that his plea would be dismissed if he fails to appear on that day.
The defamation case was filed by Mr Gadkari against Mr Digvijaya, who had alleged that the former BJP chief had business links with the then MP Ajay Sancheti.
The court issued the warrant against Mr Digvijaya after his counsel moved a plea seeking exemption from personal appearance for the day.
Mr Digvijaya's plea was opposed by advocates Ajay Digpaul and Balendu Shekhar, who appeared for Mr Gadkari.
"Issue bailable warrant in the sum of Rs 10,000 with one surety of the like amount against the accused (Singh) for November 10, 2014...," the magistrate said.
"The complainant (Nitin Gadkari) is directed to appear in person positively on the NDOH (next date of hearing), failing which complaint shall be dismissed," the court said.
Digvijaya Singh was earlier granted bail in the case by the court which, after finding "prima facie" evidence against him, had directed him to appear before it to face trial for the offence punishable under section 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the IPC.
It was also alleged in the complaint that Mr Digvijaya had accused Mr Gadkari of pocketing sum to the tune of Rs 490 crore in the coal block allocation to Mr Sancheti.
Nitin Gadkari, in his statement recorded in the court, had denied having any business ties with Mr Sancheti and had said that Mr Digvijaya levelled "totally false and defamatory" allegations against him to "give the impression that he (Mr Gadkari) have been responsible for allocation of the coal mines" to Mr Sancheti.
The BJP leader, in his petition, had sought Digvijaya Singh's prosecution under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
In his petition, Mr Gadkari had alleged that Mr Singh had levelled defamatory allegations against him to lower his dignity and to malign and tarnish his image.