New Delhi, Mar 7 (IANS): A Delhi court Wednesday directed former Indian cricket captain and MP Mohammed Azharuddin to pay Rs.15 lakh as cost for wasting the court's time after he told the judge that he had settled a dud cheque case with the complainant.

Azhar issued a cheque of Rs.1.5 crore to the complainant twice. It was dishonoured on both the occasions. The transaction was linked to a deal to buy a property in Mumbai's suburb Bandra.

Metropolitan Magistrate Vikrant Vaid said: "Ten percent of the said amount of cheque should be paid to Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA)."

The magistrate said Azhar wasted the precious time of the court, as he could have settled the matter right at the beginning of the proceedings.

The court directed Azhar to pay the amount within a month and asked him to deposit Rs.1 lakh, out of the cost, as surety.

The court direction came after the submission made by counsel of complainant Sanjay Solanki and Azhar that they had settled the case.

According to Solanki, Azhar purchased the property in Bandra for around Rs.4 crore. He was supposed to pay Rs.1.5 crore as initial amount.

The court in its last hearing issued a non-bailable warrant against Azhar after he failed to appear in court.

Azhar had moved an application seeking exemption from appearing in court claiming that he was busy campaigning for the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.