A court here today directed Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra and her father Ashok Chopra to appear before it on March one following the issuance of summons against them in connection with a case filed by her former secretary.

The orders in this regard were issued by Magistrate B S Muvel following an application moved by the Chopras' counsel seeking a month for them to appear in the court for bail in response to summons issued by a court in Mhow town.

Muvel directed them to appear on March one for seeking bail in the case following objections by Priyanka's former secretary Prakash Jajoo, the star's counsel Chandrashekhar Raikwar told press.

Jajoo has alleged in his complaint under section 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the IPC that gangster Chota Shakeel had threatened him over phone on behalf of the Chopras for settling a financial dispute between Priyanka and him for an amount of Rs 1.37 crore.

Jajoo claimed Priyanka owed the money to him as part of his fee for services rendered by him as her secretary and that she has been refusing to pay this amount.

The complaint was filed in the Mhow court by Jajoo, but it was transferred to Indore on the grounds of security after Priyanka submitted an application to the court.