Unrepentant, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said it would challenge the magisterial court’s decision of awarding two-day jail to Arvind Kejriwal for refusing to furnish the bail bond. Besides, the party also decided to launch a door-to-door contact programme to apprise people about the circumstances leading to Kejriwal’s arrest in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
The party also ruled out the possibility of furnishing a bond if the court demands as it maintained of not doing so ‘in principle’. “We told the court that it is not necessary to have a bail bond for those who are ready to give an undertaking that they will remain present for court proceedings. We will highlight the facts before the court on Friday. Many poor people are stuck in the jail because they cannot provide the bail bond,” party leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan told at a Press conference held at Kejriwal’s residence at Tilak lane.
“We will not pay bond as it is against our principles. If the order is not in our favour then we will challenge the court’s decision in the higher court,” said party leader Sanjay Singh. Senior advocate and AAP founder member Shanti Bhushan said, according to Section 88 of CrPC, “When any person for whose appearance or arrest the officer presiding in any court is empowered to issue a summons or warrant, is present in such court, such officer may require such person to execute a bond, with or without sureties, for his appearance in such court, or any other court to which the case may be transferred for trial.”
“So it is not mandatory to ask for a bail bond. There have been four instances where the court did not ask for bond,” Bhushan said. The party also said it will launch a door-to-door contact programme to apprise people about the circumstances leading to Kejriwal’s arrest in a criminal defamation case instead of holding protest against it. “We had a meeting with Kejriwal during which it was decided that the party won’t protest any more and would launch a door-to-door campaign and tell people how an honest man like Kejriwal is wallowing in jail,” said senior AAP leader Ashutosh. The party also said that it will also hold meeting of its volunteers after Friday’s decision. “We will decide the course of action after court’s decision. We have called for a meeting of all our volunteers,” said party leader Gopal Rai.