Ropar, June 07: A Court in Ropar will today hear a defamation case against Himachal Pradesh ex-Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. The court had on May 10 adjourned the hearing till today when Dhumal failed to appear before it. His counsel Satpal Jain informed the court that Mr Dhumal could not appear as his former OSD Karamveer Verma had died in a road accident on May 4. Dhumal`s application seeking personal exemption from appearance will also be taken up today. The defamation case against Dhumal was filed by Congress activist Bal Bhushan Sharma, who had alleged that Mr Dhumal had made derogatory remarks against Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during the election campaign for the Himachal assembly elections in February this year. Bureau Report