New Delhi, Jul 12 (IANS): A Delhi court Thursday granted exemption to BJP leader Vijender Gupta from personal appearance in a defamation case filed by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit.

Metropolitan Magistrate Saumya Chauhan granted the exemption to the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and listed the matter for hearing Aug 31.

The court issued fresh summons to Gupta June 22.

The Delhi High Court had Tuesday issued notice to Dikshit on Gupta's plea to quash the summons issued to him by a trial court on her defamation complaint.

The trial court June 4 accepted Dikshit's plea for issuance of summons against Gupta for defaming her prior to the April 2012 civic polls in the capital.

Gupta moved the high court challenging the trial court's order summoning him, on the ground that the entire material presented in support of the complaint was based on hearsay.

The trial court June 22 issued fresh summons against Gupta for July 12 after he failed to appear before the court.

The complaint filed by Dikshit before the magistrate said that to gain political mileage by maligning her, the BJP leader had used "uncivilised" language against her before the civic polls.

Dikshit alleged that Gupta called her a "villain" and "vamp" and also said that she had cheated the people of Delhi.

The chief minister May 30 recorded her statement against Gupta and requested the court to summon him.

Dikshit said she had sent legal notices to Gupta after the civic polls but the BJP leader did not apologise and stood by his remarks.