New Delhi: A Delhi court on July 27 framed charges against Rajya Sabha MP Pritish Nandy for allegedly assaulting and obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty at domestic airport here three years ago.

Taking cognisance of the offence, additional chief metropolitan magistrate V K Maheshwari framed charges against Nandy on two counts-obstructing a public servant in discharge of his public function, an offence punishable under Section 186 of Indian penal code (IPC) and using criminal force against an official with an intent to prevent him from discharging his duty under Section 353 of IPC.

After charge was read out to Nandy, he pleaded not guilty and preferred to face the trial.

Police had filed a complaint alleging that on July 12, 1999, Nandy who had to board a plane to Mumbai had picked up the security clearance stamp from the counter and stamped his boarding card on his own when the concerned staff delayed.

The complaint alleged that when the ASI Ram Kishan objected, the MP pushed him and threatened to slap him.

Earlier, Nandy's counsel had submitted that no offence under Section 353 was made out because there was no assault and the list of documents mentioned in the report clearly indicated manipulation, as there was over-writing on it.

However, public prosecutor had contended that the complaint specifically mentioned that the official was pushed and the accused threatened to slap him.

PTI