A Bhopal Court Thuursday issued non-bailable arrest warrant against Union Minister Uma Bharti for not appearing before it in connection with a 13-year-old defamation case. The defamation case was filed against her by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Bhubhaskar Yadav dismissed the Union Water Resources Minister’s application seeking exemption from appearance during court hearing today due to an important engagement. The Minister’s counsel pleaded that his client be exempted from the hearing on ground that she was engaged in a meeting regarding the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in view of Supreme Court’s order.
The Magistrate dismissed the plea saying that Ms Bharti is not turning up to record her statement in connection with the defamation case since October 2015 and enough time has been given to her in the 13-year-old case. He said, senior police officers should execute the arrest warrant.