New Delhi: A local court in New Delhi has granted Chhatisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi exemption from personal appearance till January 15 2004 in connection with an alleged forgery case.

Appearing on behalf of Jogi, senior advocates Rajinder Singh and D C Mathur had sought Jogi's personal exemption on the grounds that the Chief Minister was busy following next month's Assembly elections in Chhatisgarh.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shahbuddin asked Jogi to appear before the court on January 15, the next date of hearing of the case in which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against him alleging forgery.

The lawyers also sought recalling of the summons issued by the court on October 8 on which the Magistrate asked CBI to file a reply within four weeks. The court said it would take up the matter on the next date of hearing, if possible.

On October 8, the Magistrate had said "considering the entire documents and material placed on record before me, I take cognizance of the chargesheet filed against Ajit Jogi for the offences under section 471 read with 465 and 469 of IPC".

PTI