Jamtara (Jharkhand): Union Coal Minister Sibu Soren today (Dec 3, 2004) could not appear before a local court in Jamtara in connection with the 1975 Chirrudih massacre case.

Soren's counsel A K Bose filed a time petition before the Additional District Judge (Fast Track) U N Mishra stating that the Minister could not appear due to his pre-occupation, to which, the court agreed.

The judge told Soren's counsel that the next date for the Union Minister's appearance would be given later.

Soren, who had to resign from the Manmohan Singh Cabinet in July last following a non-bailable arrest warrant against him, surrendered before the court on August 2 to face the trial.