A Mumbai court on Friday issued summons to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray.

The court asked him to appear on February 8, 2007, in a case of contempt of court.

The summon was issued by Metropolitan Magistrate M B Date of the Railway mobile court on a plea made by advocate Munna Tripathi.

According to Tripathi, Thackeray had stated at a public rally at Shivaji Park a few years ago that courts issued summons to him but he appeared as and when he desired.

Tripathi's contention is that this statement amounts to contempt of court.

The court had summoned Thackeray twice earlier in the same case, but he did not appear citing grounds of old age and ill health.