Kejriwal in trouble? Appears before court over defamation case

New Delhi: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared before a court today, in connection with a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. Kejriwal was summoned by the court for describing Gadkari as a “corrupt” person. Gadkari’s complaint said on 31 January that Kejriwal released a list of “India’s most corrupt” people and it included Gadkari’s name. Gadkari has told the court that “false, baseless, scandalous, defamatory statements” by Kejriwal against him had lowered his dignity. [caption id=“attachment_153561” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has a defamation case against him, filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. AFP[/caption]   “I am fighting against corruption. I will not seek bail as I have not done anything wrong,” the Aam Aadmi Party chief told metropolitan magistrate Gomati Manocha. Kejriwal also told the court that he would not furnish a bail bond in case it is of a political nature. Instead, he said, he would give an undertaking to appear before the court at every hearing. Kejriwal told the court that in earlier defamation cases against him, he was granted bail on the undertaking that he would appear before the court at every hearing. The counsel added that Kejriwal would not flee from justice. “I completely agree but what is the problem with furnishing bail bond,” the court said. It added that furnishing a bail bond is a process of law and told Kejriwal that he was seeking differential treatment. “You are representing the Aam Aadmi Party. I request you to behave as aam aadmi (common man),” the court said. BJP leader Gadkari’s lawyer also opposed Kejriwal’s plea. The court reserved its order till later this afternoon. IANS