A Delhi court today ordered forthwith release of Arvind Kejriwal from Tihar Jail after the Aam Aadmi Party leader furnished the bail bond in a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, changing his earlier stand against it.
Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha accepted the personal bond filed by Kejriwal’s counsel in compliance with
the order passed by the Delhi High Court. “It is also submitted that Arvind Kejriwal has written in his own handwriting that he is filing the personal bond in compliance with the high court order.
“In view of this, the personal bond furnished is accepted,” the court said, adding, “Let the accused be released forthwith.” During the hearing, advocate Rahul Mehra, who appeared for Kejriwal, told the court that their writ petition is pending before the high court and Kejriwal has agreed to file the bond.
The court said that the release order will be sent to the Tihar Jail through a special messenger. Kejriwal’s counsel showed to the magistrate the written consent given by the former Delhi Chief Minister accepting the suggestion of the high court to furnish personal bond. Kejriwal gave the letter in his hand writing when senior advocate Shanti Bhushan and advocate Prashant Bhushan went to Tihar Jail to meet him after taking permission from the high court.
Earlier in the day, the high court suggested Kejriwal to furnish a bail bond and get released from the jail. He was sent to judicial custody by the magistrate on May 21 for two days. On May 23, his custody was extended by 14 days till June 6 after he refused to furnish a bail bond when he was granted bail in the case. PTI