DDCA defamation case: HC exempts Kejriwal from appearing in court

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday exempted state Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from appearing in the court for the hearing of the defamation case filed against him, by Union Minister Arun Jaitley. The court adjourned the matter till July 15. The Tis Hazari Court passed the order after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor moved an application asking to exempt him from appearing in the court on Saturday, citing political reasons and official engagements in the view of upcoming civic polls. Earlier, Jaitley had filed a criminal defamation complaint against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for allegedly defaming him in the Patiala House Court, while a civil defamation case was filed in the Delhi High Court. Jaitley had filed the suit seeking Rs. 10 crore in damages after Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders accused him of alleged irregularities and financial bungling in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), of which the former was the president for about 13 years until 2013.