New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday took cognisance of a criminal defamation plea filed by health minister Satyendar Jain against a BJP MLA who had alleged that he was circulating illegitimate money.

Metropolitan magistrate Shefali Barnala Tandon listed the matter for July 14 for recording pre-summoning evidence in support of Mr Jain’s complaint against BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa and three senior officials of a media house.

The court had earlier fixed July 14 for recording pre-summoning evidence in another defamation complaint that Mr Jain had filed against Kapil Mishra.

Advocate Gautam Dhamija, appearing for Mr Jain, argued that Mr Sirsa had alleged that the minister was circulating huge amounts of illegitimate money within the party.