Court to frame charges against Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia on September 14

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday fixed September 14 for framing of charges against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in a criminal defamation complaint.

Metropolitan magistrate Vijay Kumar Jha allowed the plea of Kejriwal and Sisodia, who were directed to appear on Wednesday, seeking exemption for personal appearance for the day.

Advocate Umesh Gupta, appearing for Kejriwal and Sisodia, sought exemption for the leaders on the ground that they were busy in bypolls in Bawana in north west Delhi on Wednesday. Besides the two AAP leaders, the court would also frame charges against Yogendra Yadav in the case.

The court had on August 2 passed order on framing of notice (charge) on a criminal defamation complaint filed against the two AAP leaders, who sought quashing of the plea, and Yadav by advocate Surender Kumar Sharma who was denied a ticket by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to contest assembly polls.

The court had said in the order that the contentions on behalf of accused persons do no sustain and proceeded to frame notice under CrPC.