New Delhi: A court in Delhi on Friday issued summons to union minister Smriti Irani in a defamation case filed against her by Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam.

Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mittal issued the summons to Ms Irani and asked her to appear before it on September 27.

Mr Nirupam has said his reputation has been dented due to the scurrilous, defamatory and derogatory comments made by Ms Irani during a TV debate.

"That the accused (Irani), a member of parliament of the BJP defamed the complainant (Nirupam) by making direct aspersions on his character," the complaint, filed through advocate RK Handoo, said.

He requested court to prosecute the accused for an offence under section 499 IPC, punishable under section 500 (defamation).

He added Ms Irani by her comments has harmed the complainant's reputation and exposed complainant to hatred and ridicule.

He further said: "The complainant is paying heavily in terms of loss to his reputation and political career apart from the mental agony and torture caused for the scurrilous and defamatory comments and allegations made by accused (Irani)."