A local court has summoned Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra in a defamation case lodged by her former private secretary Prakash Jaju.

Judicial Magistrate Rajkumar Verma summoned Priyanka on May 19.

Mr Jaju lodged the case in June 2006 over a comment made by the actress last year. The two have a long-standing financial dispute and Priyanka has lodged a police complaint against Mr Jaju in Mumbai.

Mr Jaju, who resides in the Military Headquarters Of War (MHOW) area, complained to court over a telephonic threat issued to him.