Court summons Kejriwal on May 21 in Gadkari's defamation case

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Monday directed by a court in New Delhi to "positively appear" before it on May 21 in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Gadkari.

The court's observation came after Kejriwal, who was summoned on Monday as an accused, did not appear before it on the ground that he was busy in campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

"The accused (Kejriwal) is directed to positively appear before the court on May 21," metropolitan magistrate Gomati Manocha said, while allowing the plea filed by Kejriwal's lawyer seeking exemption from personal appearance for the day for the Aam Aadmi Party leader.

During the hearing, the counsel appearing for Gadkari, opposed the plea filed by Kejriwal's counsel saying the AAP leader should have appeared before the court today.

The court, however, posted the matter for May 21.

The court, on February 28, had summoned Kejriwal as an accused in the criminal defamation complaint observing that statements allegedly made by the AAP leader have the effect of "harming the reputation" of the complainant.

The summon was issued against Kejriwal on a complaint in which Gadkari had alleged that he was defamed by Kejriwal, who had included his name in the party's list of "India's most corrupt".

Former BJP President Gadkari had said that on January 31 this year, Kejriwal had issued a list of alleged "India's most corrupt" in which he had named various politicians, including him.

On January 31, Kejriwal had accused several politicians of being "corrupt" and had said thee AAP will field candidates against them in coming Lok Sabha polls.