A court here Monday directed former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it May 21 in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

 

 It had issued summons to Kejriwal to appear before it April 7 for calling Gadkari "corrupt" but his lawyers sought an extension saying the AAP leader was busy campaigning in the Lok Sabha election. Allowing a plea for exemption moved by Kejriwal, Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha said: "The accused is directed to appear positively on May 21."

 

 Gadkari's counsel has opposed the exemption request. The complaint by Gadkari said that on Jan 31 Kejriwal released a list of 'India's most corrupt' and it included Gadkari's name.

 

 Gadkari told the court that "false, baseless, scandalous, defamatory statements" by Kejriwal against him had lowered his dignity in the eyes of the public.