Arvind Kejriwal agrees to submit personal bail bond in defamation case

Former Chief Minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal today accepted the suggestion of the Delhi High Court to furnish a personal bond for getting bail in a criminal defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan and advocate Prashant Bhushan, who met Kejriwal in Tihar Jail in the afternoon to discuss the court’s suggestion, told a bench of justices Kailash Gambhir and Sunita Gupta that he has agreed to the proposal and has signed a bond of Rs 10,000.

The bench asked Kejriwal’s lawyers to present the bond to the magistrate concerned or duty magistrate today itself, adding that furnishing of the same would be subject to final outcome of the legal issues raised by him.

Earlier today, the Court told Prashant and Shanti Bhushan to advise Kejriwal to submit a personal bond in the case. The AAP leader was sent to judicial custody after his refusal to furnish a bail bond.

The bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir and Justice Sunita Gupta said it will look into the legal challenge to the demand for bail bond later. “Why do you want him to stay in jail? Submit the personal bond and seek his release. We will look at the legal issues,” said the HC bench.

The court gave special permission to Bhushans to meet Kejriwal outside the Tihar jail. Advocate Pinki Anand appearing for Nitin Gadkari said the AAP wants special laws for themselves. “Kejriwal should not be allowed to issue statements to the media from jail. No procedure is being followed,” added Anand.

On May 21, the court had granted bail to Kejriwal in the defamation complaint, saying the offence under Section 500 of IPC was bailable and had asked him to furnish a personal bond.