A Mumbai sessions court on Friday fined Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Rs 500 for failing to be present at a hearing. The court also gave Thackeray an ultimatum to be present before it on August 21, failing which it would pass an ex-parte order in the case.
Munna Tripathi, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, had filed a case against Thackeray last year. According to Tripathi, Thackeray's article in his party mouthpiece Saamna was provocative and aimed to cause communal disharmony.
Earlier, a bailable warrant had been issued against Thackeray in connection with the case.
The Sena supremo had sought a stay against the warrant through his counsel. However, he did not appear in person for the hearing, in spite of the court specifically asking him to be present.
Additional Sessions Judge S J Shah fined Thackeray Rs 500 for non-appearance and also asked him to be present during the next hearing.