Chandigarh, Dec 03: A local court today adjourned till January 31 the criminal defamation case filed by former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal against his successor Amarinder Singh. Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) C L Mohal fixed the next date for presenting evidence in the case and for consideration of the application by Badal regarding alleged misconduct by Amarinder Singh after the case was filed against the chief minister to January 31. Pleading not guilty, the Punjab Chief Minister, who was present in the court, said that he wanted to face trial in the case as charges against him by Badal were baseless.
Badal was given exemption from appearance as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief was lodged in the Patiala jail.


The court gave an acquisition notice to the Chief Minister summoning him as he had been charged with defaming publicly the complainant.

Badal had filed the defamation case seeking damages to the tune of Rs five crore against Amarinder Singh in August following the latter's accusations against the former regarding of amassing properties worth Rs 3500 crore in and outside the country during his regime between 1997-2002.

Bureau Report