Kejriwal lands in Tihar jail

New Delhi: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Wednesday sent to judicial custody till May 23 after he refused to furnish a bail bond in connection with a criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

The court, while passing the order, said the AAP leader was looking for “some exceptional treatment”. The court also ordered the Delhi Police to take Kejriwal into custody and shift him to Tihar jail. 

The order was passed after Kejriwal refused to give an undertaking and furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000. 

Kejriwal, who appeared before the court in pursuance to the summons issued against him, told Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha that he was ready to give an undertaking that he will appear before the court but refused to furnish bail bond to secure bail. 

During the hearing, the magistrate observed, “I completely agree but why he (Kejriwal) will not furnish bail bond. What is the problem. There is a procedure and why should we follow different procedure in this case.” 

“I agree he will appear in the court but the procedure is that a person has to file bail bond. Are you looking for some exception treatment?” the court asked. 

Kejriwal, who also argued in the court, told the judge that he has not committed any heinous crime and added that he was not looking for any exceptional treatment.  “This is my principle that when I have not done anything wrong, I will not seek bail. I am ready to go to jail,” he said. 

Advocates Prashant Bhushan and Rahul Mehra, who appeared for Kejriwal, told the magistrate that these cases are of political nature and as per the principle of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), they will not furnish bail bond.