In Arvind Kejriwal, Sheila Dikshit power tussle, court blinks

Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal was today released by a Delhi court on an undertaking after he refused to seek bail in a criminal defamation case filed against him by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's political secretary for his remarks during protests on power tariff issue.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Sanjay Bansal released Kejriwal, who had been summoned by the court, on an undertaking that he would appear on every date of hearing after he refused to seek bail and furnish any personal or surety bond.

The court, however, made it clear that the relief would only be "valid till the next date of hearing", June 5, and asked him to challenge the summons order, if he feels aggrieved.

"Section 500 IPC is bailable.... At this stage, the accused refused to furnish personal bond.

"He is released on an undertaking. 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.

Kejriwal is accused of defaming Dikshit by making "baseless" allegations against her last year in several protests on power tariff hike.

Kejriwal himself argued as his counsel could not enter the courtroom owing to lawyers' strike at Karkardooma Courts.

He objected to the complaint on the grounds that it has been filed by Pawan Khera, political secretary of the Chief Minister, and not by Dikshit herself.

"I admit the allegations levelled against me. If Sheila ji thinks that she has been defamed then she herself would have filed the case.

"This is a proxy complaint and as far as I know, the defamation case has to be filed by the person who has been defamed," he added.

During the hearing, Khera opposed Kejriwal's argument saying he has been working with the Chief Minister for part 15 years and if someone defames her, they are also defamed.

... contd.

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