Sultanpur (UP), Aug 17 Proceedings in a case against former Delhi law minister Somnath Bharti in a special court here were deferred on Monday due to a lawyers' strike, with the next hearing on framing of charges scheduled for August 22.
Special MP-MLA Magistrate Shubham Verma fixed the next date for arguments in the case.
The case was registered against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader over remarks he allegedly made about hospitals in Uttar Pradesh during a public meeting at Jagdishpur in Amethi district.
Special Public Prosecutor Vaibhav Pandey said on January 9, 2021, Bharti, while addressing a gathering at the Jagdishpur Ramlila Maidan, had allegedly remarked that "even animals are born with humans in hospitals here".
Following the remarks, Jagdishpur resident Somnath Sahu got a complaint lodged against Bharti at the Jagdishpur police station on January 10, 2021.
Bharti had obtained bail, but the Supreme Court had subsequently stayed the proceedings in the case on his petition.
The apex court recently lifted the stay, following which Bharti was summoned at the previous hearing for proceedings related to framing of charges. He was not present in the court during that hearing.
His counsel, Rudra Pratap Singh Madan, said the next hearing has been fixed for arguments on the charges through online proceedings.
