A Delhi court on Saturday fined former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Rs. 3 lakh for failing to appear before it in a defamation case she had filed in 2012 against former Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta.
This is the second time that Ms. Dikshit has been slapped with a fine for non-appearance in her case as last year, she was fined Rs. 5,000 for the same reason.
Imposing the fine, Metropolitan Magistrate Neha directed Ms. Dikshit to pay Rs. 2 lakh of the fine amount to the Delhi Legal Services Authority and Rs. 1 lakh to Mr. Gupta.
Ms. Dikshit had filed the suit during the run-up to the elections to the three municipal corporations of Delhi in 2012, alleging that Mr. Gupta had used foul language against her in an interview to an English daily while criticising her for trifurcation of the then Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
The court later gave her the last opportunity to appear on December 20, failing which it might consider allowing a plea by Mr. Gupta to dismiss the suit, counsel for Mr. Gupta, Neeraj and Ajay Digpaul told The Hindu.
Earlier, counsel for Ms. Dikshit sought another exemption from appearance for her, saying she had some political commitment.
Counsel for Mr. Gupta opposed her plea, arguing that the court had fixed August 30 for her appearance as per convenience and directed her to appear before it without fail or any excuse.
They further submitted that Ms. Dikshit was delaying the matter deliberately because she had no case against Mr. Gupta.
The court has already framed notice against Mr. Gupta in the case. Ms. Dikshit’s presence is now required in the court for recording her evidence.
