New Delhi: Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday gave an undertaking in a Delhi court that he will appear before it whenever required in a defamation case filed by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit`s political secretary for his alleged remarks against her during power tariff hike protests.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanjay Bansal passed the order releasing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener on the undertaking given by him after he refused to seek bail.
Advocate Somnath Bharti, appearing for Kejriwal, said he stuck to his stand that he will not seek bail and furnish any personal or surety bond. He said they have also adopted the same procedure in other cases lodged against him and other party members.
The counsel said Kejriwal has given a written undertaking to the court that he would abide by its orders and would appear as and when required.
The court fixed October 5 for hearing arguments on the issue of locus standi of complainant Pawan Khera, Political Secretary of Dikshit, in filing the case.
The AAP convener is accused of defaming Dikshit by making "baseless" allegations against her last year in several protests on power tariff hike.
The court had earlier released Kejriwal till today on an undertaking that he would appear on every date of hearing after he refused to seek bail and furnish any personal or surety bond.
Kejriwal had opposed the complaint on the grounds that it has been filed by Khera and not by Dikshit herself.
Kejriwal had admitted the allegations levelled against
him but said if Dikshit was defamed then she should have filed the defamation case herself.
Khera had filed the defamation case saying Kejriwal had used "false and filthy" language against Dikshit in a television show.
"Due to politically motivated and malafide reasons, mischievous and absolutely false and baseless allegations have been intentionally made in a filthy and foul language, through convoluted information, to gain scandalising impact, at a platform where the same could not be rebutted, as Sheila Dikshit or the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi was not represented.
"This shows that the intention was to paint a patently incorrect picture in the eyes of the viewers, general public, thereby, causing irreparable harm to the reputation and standing of all including complainant," the complaint alleged.
It said in October 2012, Kejriwal had organised several protests against "power tariff hike in the capital and had accused the government of stalling Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission`s move to cut power tariff by 23 per cent in 2010".
PTI
