New Delhi: A Delhi court on Saturday directed chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on March 21 in connection with a criminal defamation case lodged against him and suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad by the DDCA and its vice-president Chetan Chauhan for allegedly trying to tarnish the image of the cricketing body by making scandalous remarks.

Metropolitan magistrate Abhilash Malhotra had on January 30 summoned Mr Kejriwal and Mr Azad saying that the comments of both the leaders prima facie adversely affected the reputation of cricketing body and its official.

The counsel appearing for Mr Kejriwal told the court that he was undergoing treatment in Bengaluru and requested the court to allow his personal exemption on medical grounds.

The court allowed his plea.