AAP defends Kejriwal decision to take bail issue to HC

Aam Aadmi Party today defended Arvind Kejriwal's decision to approach Delhi High Court in the matter of his arrest in a defamation case saying that the move would ensure that a clear position of law emerges on the issue of personal bail bonds.
"By taking the matter to high court, Kejriwal has ensured that a clear position of law will emerge on this issue which concerns millions of people in the country. That would not have been possible had Kejriwal quietly accepted the Metropolitan Magistrate's order," AAP said in a statement.
The party said that AAP convener Kejriwal had so far refused to furnish a personal bail bond on the "principled" stand that the common man should not be subjected to harassment on technical grounds in petty cases in courts of law.

High court today advised Kejriwal, who was lodged in Tihar jail, to furnish a bail bond in the criminal defamation complaint filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. He was released from prison in the evening after furnishing the bond.
"Kejriwal accepted the proposal of high court to furnish a personal bail bond for his release from Tihar jail and the court has made it clear that the issue of whether such bonds are a mandatory requirement will be subject to the final outcome of his petition, which is listed for hearing on July 31," the party said.
According to AAP, the "unfortunate practice" being followed by courts in petty criminal matters of mandatorily seeking bonds and sureties from those who are summoned on complaints filed by aggrieved parties is discriminatory, particularly when there is no apprehension of the summoned person not appearing for hearings.