New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS): A court here on Monday took cognizance of a defamation complaint against suspended BJP leader Kirti Azad for his alleged "defamatory" and "false" remarks against Delhi-based cricketer Himmat Singh and his father Tejbir Singh.

Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain agreed to hear the criminal defamation complaint against Azad and posted the matter for hearing on February 22.

The complaint was filed by Himmat Singh's father Tejbir last month against Azad and three other former cricketers including Bishan Singh Bedi, claiming that the four made baseless allegations against his son Himmat, saying he was selected in a cricket tournament after giving a bribe of Rs.25 lakh.

Tejbir said the "baseless" and "concocted" story of the four accused people caused "immense damage" to Himmat and their family.

"False and defamatory statements regarding the exchange of Rs.25 lakh for selection of the complainant's son, Himmat Singh, for some tournament ie. Vijay Hazare Trophy, is concocted per se and the same are not only false but false to the knowledge of the accused(s) jointly and severally," alleged Tejbir, in his complaint.