New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS): A court here Saturday slapped with a fine of Rs.3 lakh on former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit after she failed to appear before it in a defamation case filed by her against BJP leader Vijender Gupta.

Metropolitan Magistrate Neha imposed the fine after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader's counsel told court that she was directed by the court to appear on Saturday without any excuse.

Gupta's counsel, advocate Anil Soni opposed Dikshit's plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court, saying she is delaying the matter.

Dikshit had sought the exemption on the grounds that she was preoccupied with some political work.

The court directed her to pay Rs.2 lakh to Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and Rs.1 lakh to Gupta and fixed Dec 20 as next date of hearing.

Dikshit had filed the criminal defamation case against Gupta alleging that the BJP leader used "uncivilised" language against her in the run up to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls in 2012.