India, Oct. 8 -- The sessions court on Wednesday imposed a Rs.1,000 cost on each of three accused, including Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde, for repeatedly avoiding personal appearance in a 2016 assault case. While allowing their exemption applications, it warned that failure to appear on November 2, when charges are to be framed, could lead to warrants and cancellation of bail bonds.

Additional Sessions Judge Gopal G Bhansali remarked that the case was filed in 2016, the charge-sheet filed in 2017 and committed to the court in 2019 but charges had still not been framed. "Continuous absence of accused reflects their behaviour to protract the trial," (sic) he observed.

The court nevertheless refrained from issuing a non-bailable warrant, citing...