A court in Mumbai has imposed a cost of Rs 300 on Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde for repeatedly failing to appear before it in a seven-year-old case involving the alleged assault of two school teachers.

The incident dates back to July 29, 2016, when Tawde and six others allegedly entered a municipal Urdu-medium school in Vakola and had a heated exchange with the school management over the transfer of a teacher who was suffering from cancer.

According to the prosecution, Tawde and the other accused allegedly assaulted two teachers during the incident. The FIR was registered on August 11, 2016.

The court has since framed charges against Tawde, a BJP corporator, and the other accused, with the trial now set to begin.

During Tuesday's hearing, Tawde's lawyer sought exemption from her personal appearance.

Additional Sessions Judge G G Bhansali noted that the court had already granted her exemption at the previous hearing, making it clear that it was the "last chance."

The court nevertheless allowed the fresh exemption plea filed by Tawde and two other accused, but imposed a cost of Rs 300 on each of them. The amount has to be deposited before the next hearing on October 7.

Tawde has denied the allegations and claimed that her presence at the spot was "coincidental and unrelated to the alleged mob incident."