Defamation case: Mansa court orders CM Mann to appear on assembly special session day

Bathinda: A Mansa court on Tuesday ordered Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann to appear in court in connection with a 2019 defamation case on May 1 — the same day a special session of the state assembly has been called.Additional chief judicial magistrate Rajinder Singh Nagpal issued the order after granting a final single-day exemption in the case filed by former MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia. The orders, uploaded on Wednesday, said Mann has not appeared even once for proceedings since Oct 20, 2022, when he was granted bail in the case. Not pleased with his attitude towards the proceedings, the magistrate directed Mann's counsel to ensure his presence on the next date of hearing, or his bail order would be cancelled, and coercive methods adopted to ensure his presence. On the last date of hearing, the court had rejected Mann's application to appear through videoconferencing. Former MLA Manshahia filed the criminal defamation suit against Mann and others on July 30, 2019. He alleged Mann, then Sangrur MP, falsely accused him during a press conference in Sangrur of joining the Congress in exchange of Rs 10 crore and on assurance of chairmanship of Punjab Pollution Control Board. MSID:: 130605318 413 |