Court shows annoyance over Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s repeated absence; directs appearance on May 1 in defamation case

BATHINDA: Over three years after his last appearance, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann again failed to appear in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mansa on Tuesday in a criminal defamation case by ex MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia, the act which annoyed the court and the court directed the counsel to ensure the accused appears in court on next hearing on May or bail orders shall be cancelled.

An application was filed on behalf of the chief minister for exemption from personal appearance, which was granted for the day and the matter was adjourned to May 1.



Interestingly the state government has convened a special session of state assembly on May 1
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann last appeared in court on October 20, 2022, and got bail in the case after furnishing bail bonds. The case was filed in 2019, when present CM Bhagwant Mann was an MP.

The orders pertaining to proceedings for the day were uploaded on Wednesday morning.During the hearing the court of ACJM Rajinder Singh Nagpal observed that perusal of the file shows that since October 20, 2022, the accused has not appeared even once for proceedings due to which further proceedings could not be conducted in the case.

On last date of the hearing the application for appearing and the accused was directed to appear before this court today but again exemption application has been filed on behalf of the accused on vague ground similar to earlier exemption applications which clearly shows his conduct and attitude towards court’ proceedings. The counsel of the accused is directed to procure presence of accused Bhagwant Mann on the next date if hearing, failing which his bail order shall be cancelled and coercive method will be adopted to ensure his presence before this court.

Former MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia, an MLA from Aam Aadmi Party had joined Congress on April 25, 2019. Manshahia had stated that two days after his joining the Congress, then Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann (now CM) in a press conference held at Sangrur had made accusations that he (Manshahia) had joined Congress in lure of Rs 10 crore and on the assurance of Chairmanship of Punjab Pollution Control Board. He had written to Bhagwant Mann either to apologise or prove the allegations and upon getting no reply, Manshahia had filed a criminal defamation suit against Bhagwant Mann and others u/s 500 (defamation), 34 (act done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 66E, 67 Information Technology Act in Mansa court on July 30, 2019.