New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS): A court Saturday imposed a fine of Rs.10,000 on union minister Nitin Gadkari after he failed to comply with court's earlier order in a defamation case he had filed against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha imposed the fine saying the minister failed to file an affidavit three days before the scheduled date of hearing, that is Saturday.

Posting the matter for March 21, 2015, the court gave Gadkari, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, the final opportunity to file the affidavit.

The court had earlier framed defamation charges against Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in the case.

Gadkari had accused Kejriwal of defaming him by including his name in the AAP's list of "India's most corrupt".

The court had earlier also suggested both the leaders bury the hatchet and come to an amicable resolution of the case.

Gadkari had told the court that he was ready to resolve the issue if Kejriwal withdrew his statement. However, Kejriwal refused to do so.

Kejriwal had earlier been sent to jail after he refused to furnish a personal bail bond in the case. He, however, relented on the advice of the Delhi High Court and was released.