Kejriwal sent to judicial custody for two days

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was Wednesday sent to two-day judicial custody by a court after he refused to furnish a personal bail bond in a defamation case filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.

Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha fixed Friday as the next date of hearing. Manocha had asked him to furnish a bail bond of Rs.10,000 but the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader refused.

Kejriwal was summoned by the court for describing former Bharatiya Janata Party president as a "corrupt" person.

Earlier, Kejriwal told the court he would not furnish a bail bond as the case was a political one. Instead, he promised to give an undertaking to appear before the court at every hearing.

"I am fighting against corruption. I will not seek bail as I have not done anything wrong," he said.

His counsel told the court that in earlier defamation cases against him, Kejriwal was granted bail on the undertaking that he would appear before the court at every hearing.

The counsel added that Kejriwal would not flee from justice.

"I completely agree but what is the problem with furnishing a bail bond?" asked the judge.

The judge said furnishing a bond was a process of law and told Kejriwal that he was seeking different treatment.

"You are representing the Aam Aadmi Party. I request you to behave as aam aadmi (common man)," the court said.

Gadkari's lawyer opposed Kejriwal's plea.

Gadkari's complaint said that Jan 31, when he was Delhi's chief minister, Kejriwal released a list of "India's most corrupt" people and it included his name.

Gadkari told the court that "false, baseless, scandalous, defamatory statements" by Kejriwal against him had lowered his dignity.