Aggrieved by the contents of a book authored by Patil, Khadse had served a legal notice on the Janata Dal leader. As there was no response, the Irrigation Minister filed a Rs one crore defamation suit against him on May 2. The High Court had then asked Patil to file an affidavit before June 10 in connection with the charges of corruption he had levelled against the Minister. However, Patil failed to file the affidavit as desired by the High Court.

Now the court has asked Patil to file the affidavit before August 14. ``I give two weeks time to Patil to file an affidavit in reply. However, it will be on condition that if no affidavit is filed on or before August 14, there shall be an order in terms of prayer (a) of the motion without further reference to thecourt,'' the court observed.

In his prayer (a), Khadse has urged the High Court to restrain Patil from publishing defamatory articles in any form in any newspaper or a booklet authored by him (Patil). Advocate M N Zambre appeared for Khadse, while P M Pradhan held the brief for Gulabrao Patil.