New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday fixed August 23 for framing charges against chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in a criminal defamation complaint as the concerned judge was on leave.

The court had earlier directed the two AAP leaders and Yogendra Yadav to appear before it. While Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia sought exemption on the ground that they have to attend the four-day Monsoon session of the Delhi Assembly which is commencing on Tuesday, Mr Yadav was present in the court. The court had on August 2 passed order on framing of notice (charge) on the criminal defamation complaint filed against the two AAP leaders, who sought quashing of the plea, and Mr Yadav by advocate Surender Kumar Sharma, who was denied ticket by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The court had said in the order that the contentions on behalf of accused persons do no sustain and it proceeded to frame notice under the CrPC against them. Mr Yadav was a member of the national executive of the AAP until 2015, when he was expelled for alleged anti-party activities. Later, he floated his own party Swaraj India.

Mr Sharma, in his complaint, had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Mr Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.

He filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Mr Sisodia and Mr Yadav that AAP’s Political Affairs Committee had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him. On October 14, 2013, the complainant claimed, articles in leading newspapers carried “defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons” which have lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.