Tuesday, July 5 2005 11:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: A local court today (July 5, 2005) adjourned till August 1, the defamation case filed by Bollywood actor and former Censor Board Chairman Anupam Kher against Communist Party of India (CPI) Marxist (M) leader Harkishen Singh Surjeet.

Kher's lawyer Majid Memon could not appear before court as he survied an attempted bid on his life today (July 5, 2005) because of which adjournment was sought.

On the last date of hearing, Kher had told media that hewas planning to withdraw the case against Surjeet as he isrepeatedly failing to appear before the court.

Kher had said, "Surjeet is seeking adjournments becausehe is afraid of facing me in the court, and giving reasons ofill health. Looking at his age, I want to relieve him of thefear and he is the one who will be ashamed if the case is withdrawn."

CPI-M leader's lawyer informed magistrate M H Belosay that the Bombay High Court had stayed the bailable warrants issued against Surjeet till June 15.

Kher had filed a defamation case against the CPI (M) leader for allegedly defaming him in articles published in a party publication describing him as an "Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) agent" and alleging that he had saffronised the Censor Board as its Chairman.