The criminal defamation case filed by the RSS against Kesri is being heard in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Prem Kumar. Kesri requested a stay in these proceedings until two other similar cases -- filed in Purulia (West Bengal) and Pratapgarh (Rajasthan) -- come up for hearing before the DJ.

The case is listed for hearing in the CMM's court on October 30. On September 14, the Supreme Court ordered that cases in Purulia and Pratapgarh be transferred to the DJ's court. While the RSS filed criminal defamation cases against Kesri in Pratapgarh and Delhi, a civil case was filed in Purulia where Rs 1.5 lakh has been demanded as compensation.

The DJ's ordertoday states: ``The files have not been received by this court. Files be awaited so that compliance could be made for assigning them to one court.'' However, Kesri's counsel Kailash Gambhir argued that his client fears that the CMM will proceed with the case, which is fixed for hearing on the question of notice, and will frame charges. The DJ said, ``This apprehension, to my mind, is not well counted because CMM has adjourned the case.''

In a press conference earlier this year Kesri had allegedly held the RSS responsible for the February 14 Coimbatore bomb blasts in which 60 people were killed.