However, Magistrate, Passenger Tax court, Masrat Shaheen yesterday exempted Mehbooba from personal appearance in the case on the grounds that her presence could be a security risk.
The PDP leader appeared before the court during yesterday's proceedings.Sagar, who was chief polling agent of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, had filed a defamation suit against the PDP president, who had accused him of rigging elections by indulging in booth capturing.
Mehbooba had approached the High Court, seeking dismissal of the suit in the trial court. However, the High court dismissed the PDP leader's petition and directed the trial court to go ahead with the proceedings.
The PDP president was given bail after furnishing a bond of Rs 20,000 and two sureties of the same amount