In a criminal defamation suit brought against Bajrang Punia by wrestling instructor Naresh Dahiya, a Delhi court exempted him from personal appearance for the day on Wednesday.
Metropolitan Magistrate Yashdeep Chahal, who called Punia to court today, gave him the relief after his counsel requested an exemption on medical grounds, alleging the wrestler was unable to present due to a fever.
The court took note of the submissions and rescheduled the case until September 14.
The judge also ordered the complainant to provide a copy of the complaint to Punia's attorney.
The court had called the wrestler, believing "prima facie" that all elements of defamation were proven against him.
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The complainant claims that Punia, along with other wrestlers/persons, made defamatory remarks about him at a press conference at Jantar Mantar on May 10 during a protest against the outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's alleged sexual harassment of some female wrestlers.
(With PTI inputs)
