New Delhi, Nov 9 (IANS): A Delhi court Friday allowed exemption to Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit from personal appearance before it in a defamation case she has lodged against Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta.

Metropolitan Magistrate Saumya Chauhan allowed personal exemption to Dikshit after her counsel Gajinder Kumar informed the court that she has gone to Mumbai Thursday due to a bereavement in the family.

On the last hearing in Oct 12, the court directed Dikshit to appear in the court Nov 9 without any excuse after Gupta opposed exemption to her.

Gupta then told the court that Dikshit has only appeared once in the case even though the court has given seven dates of hearing.

"Considering the fact complainant has not appeared since recording her statement against Gupta, therefore she is directed to appear positively. Otherwise the complaint would be dismissed," the court thereon warned her counsel.

The court had also observed that the chief minister was like any other complainant.

On Friday, the court fixed Feb 18, 2013, for next hearing and commencement of hearing on arguments on framing of charges.

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 in April this year.

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.