Bailable warrant issued against Bal Thackeray

Mumbai, Feb 8: A local court today issued bailable warrant against Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray for his failure to appear before the court in a criminal defamation case filed by NCP worker Munna Tripati against him in 2006.

Mr Thackeray's advocate Dinanath Tiwari produced a medical certificate in the court and asked for exemption from physical appearance of his client on health grounds.

When Mr Tiwari pressed for exemption saying his client had undergone by-pass surgeory and he was 80-years-old, Metropolitan Magistrate M B Datte rejected the repondent's plea and issued bailable warrant against Mr Thackeray. The court said ''A person who can attend public meeting, interact with mediapersons, can also attend a court date.'' The matter has been adjourned till March 28 for further hearing.

It may be recalled that on June 19, 2006, Mr Thackeray had given a provocative speech on his party's anniversary that could have led to communal violance between two communities.

On the basis of a newspaper article Mr Munna Tripati, NCP leader had filed a criminal defamation case against Mr Thackery on July 3, 2006.

UNI