Arvind Kejriwal refuses to seek bail in Dikshit defamation case

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal today stood firm in a local court, reiterating his stand of not seeking bail in a defamation case filed against him by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s political secretary for his alleged remarks against her during power tariff hike protests. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate(CMM) Sanjay Bansal released Kejriwal on an undertaking that he would appear on every date of  the hearing after he refused to seek bail and furnish any personal or surety bond. [caption id=“attachment_845239” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Arvind said he would not run away and refused to furnish bail on principle[/caption] The Aam Admi Party (AAP) chief is accused of defaming Dikshit by making “baseless” allegations against her during the course of several protests on Delhi’s power tariff hike. On being asked by the court to furnish a personal or surety bond, Kejriwal refused. “I do not want any special treatment. Kindly treat me as a common man. This is my own decision that I am not going to furnish any bail bond. Kindly treat me the way law of the land says,” Kejriwal told the court. He added that he was ready to face the consequences of his actions, but said he would not furnish the bond, as giving a surety would mean “there is an apprehension that I might flee”, which was not the case. Kejriwal said however, that he was ready to give an undertaking or a separate letter that he will appear in the court on every hearing of the case. Advocate Mehmood Pracha, appearing for complainant Pawan Khera, however, opposed Kejriwal’s stand, asking him to show which provisions in the law allowed a man to be released on an undertaking. The court, however, made it clear that the relief would only be “valid till the next date of hearing” on 17 August and said it will decide on that day about the issue of bail. “This issue regarding bail will be decided on the next date of hearing. Let the accused put signature on the order sheet and submit that he will appear on every hearing. This be taken as his undertaking. This will be valid till the next date of hearing only,” the court said. PTI