Defamation complaint: Kejriwal refuses to give bail bond

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today refused to furnish a bail bond in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari before a court here which asked if the AAP leader was looking for "some exceptional treatment". Chandrakant Khaire - the fourth-term member from Aurangabad with eight cases and assets worth Rs.9 crore - runs a traditional small family business of bamboo articles. He is credited with single handedly building up the Muslim-dominated tourism city into a Shiv Sena bastion in the past over two decades. Kejriwal, who appeared before the court in pursuance to the summons issued against him, told Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha that he was ready to give an undertaking that he will appear before the court but refused to furnish bail bond to secure bail. During the hearing, the magistrate observed, "I completely agree but why he (Kejriwal) will not furnish bail bond. What is the problem. There is a procedure and why should we follow different procedure in this case. "I agree he will appear in the court but the procedure is that a person has to file bail bond. Are you looking for some exception treatment?" Kejriwal, who also argued in the court, told the judge that he has not committed any heinous crime and added that he was not looking for any exceptional treatment. "This is my principle that when I have not done anything wrong, I will not seek bail. I am ready to go to jail," he said. Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Rahul Mehra, who appeared for Kejriwal, told the magistrate that these cases are of political nature and as per the principle of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), they will not furnish bail bond. Bhushan also argued that there was no possibility that Kejriwal would tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses and filing of undertaking was correct.

Senior advocate Pinki Anand, who appeared for Gadkari, opposed the contentions of defence counsel, saying there was no procedure in law to furnish undertaking and law should not vary for anyone. The court after hearing the arguments advanced by both the parties reserved its order for 4 PM on the issue of filing of undertaking by Kejriwal.