The Arvind Kejriwal show is set to stay in the Capital for a while as a city court sent the Aam Aadmi Party convener back to Tihar Jail for two weeks on Friday. The order came after an adamant Kejriwal, once again, refused to sign a personal bond in a criminal defamation case filed by senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. Admonishing Kejriwal during the hearing, the Metropolitan Magistrate (MM) Gomati Manocha asked the former Delhi Chief Minister to act more ‘responsibly’ and abide by the law.
MM remanded Kejriwal to judicial custody till June 6 after he remained resilient on not furnishing a personal bond. “I will only request you (Kejriwal’s lawyer) to challenge my order if you want. I have already made up my mind,” Magistrate said, adding that she cannot review her order passed on May 21.
Noted senior lawyer Shanti Bhushan appearing for Kejriwal contended that it was not mandatory for Kejriwal to furnish the bail bond. AAP chief Kejriwal himself told the court that he was trying to understand what his fault was and lots of politicians have filed such cases against him. “I can’t believe I was arrested in the case. I am not able to understand what crime have I done. Why didn’t the court accept my undertakingIJ” he asked.
Following the submission by them, the judge noted, “The rate of legal illiteracy in the country is quite high. Even educated people fail to understand the difference between a bail bond and a personal bond.” In an hour-long hearing, the magistrate also explained the legal provisions to Kejriwal which called for him furnishing a bail bond. “You (Kejriwal) have been summoned as an accused. You are not a convict. You will face trial... You cannot say that I am innocent and I will not give bond. This is a procedure,” the magistrate said. The court observed that if other leaders of the party can furnish bond to secure bail, why Kejriwal cannot do it.
MM Manocha also said, “Since you (Kejriwal) have held a constitutional position, you are expected to be sensible.” Senior advocate Pinki Anand, who appeared for Gadkari, told the court that criminal courts cannot review their order. As the proceedings came to an end and Kejriwal was being taken to Tihar Jail, he said, “I am fighting against corruption and I have been arrested. But Nitin Gadkari did corruption and he is roaming free. It is ironical that a defamed person has filed a defamation case against me.”
Meanwhile, party’s senior leader and advocate Prashant Bhushan said that the AAP would move to the High Court challenging the court’s decision. Somnath Bharti said, “What wrong are we doing by calling a thief a thiefIJ A message is being sent across to the people that under this Government you can not raise voice against corruption. If Arvind Kejriwal cannot talk about corruption then how can a common man do soIJ”