A Mumbai sessions court on Friday fined Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray Rs 500 for failing to be present at a hearing. The court also gave Thackeray an ultimatum to be present before it on August 21, failing which it would pass an ex-parte order in the case.

Munna Tripathi, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party, had filed a case against Thackeray last year. According to Tripathi, Thackeray's article in his party mouthpiece Saamna was provocative and aimed to cause communal disharmony. 

Earlier, a bailable warrant had been issued against Thackeray in connection with the case.

The Sena supremo had sought a stay against the warrant through his counsel. However, he did not appear in person for the hearing, in spite of the court specifically asking him to be present.