Court dismisses Arjun Singh's plea for separate hearing

Yamunanagar, Nov 10 (UNI) A local court here has dismissed Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh's plea for a separate hearing in a case of defamation by the Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS).

First class magistrate Ashwini Goyal yesterday turned down the Minister's plea that his case not be clubbed with Hindu newspaper in the case slapped by the RSS in August 2004.

The court also fixed the date of next hearing as December 16 in the case filed by Darshan Lal Jain, Incharge Haryana unit of the RSS, against the Hindu and Mr Singh over the report in which the Minister had held the Sangh responsible for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination as the attacker Nathu Ram Godse was an RSS follower.

Mr Singh was granted bail and exemption from personal hearing in the case.

Meanwhile, the Hindu has filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court pleading ''not to be made a party'' in the case. The plea will be heard in Chandigarh by the HC on November 22.

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