A local court in Muktsar Sahib in Punjab Thursday issued summons to CM Bhagwan Mann on a defamation suit filed by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal seeking Rs 1 crore in damages from him for levelling “malicious allegations” against his family and party. Mann welcomed the defamation suit, saying that it will give him another chance to expose the “misdeeds” of the Badal family.

The court of additional sessions judge Rajpal Rawal issued summons to Mann asking him to appear before it on February 19.

“I have filed a defamation suit… (against) CM Mann for wilful defamation as part of an Aam Aadmi Party conspiracy against me, my family, and my party,” Badal said.

CM Mann, at an event in Sangrur, said he will make a plea for daily hearing of the case to ensure that people are apprised about the “sins” of Badals. He alleged that Badals “ignored” the interests of the state.