Kejriwal gets bail in defamation case

A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri.

The MP alleged that Mr. Kejriwal had defamed him in an interview given to a news channel in July last year.

Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh granted bail to him on a personal bond of Rs.10,000 and posted the matter for August 6 for further hearing.

Mr. Kejriwal, who came with his lawyers,filed an application for permanent exemption from personal appearance before the court in the matter. Mr. Bidhuri had taken objection to Mr. Kejriwal’s statement that though criminal cases were pending against the MP, the Delhi police were not taking any action. “Ramesh Bidhuri ke khilaf bade bade sangeen charges hain, unko pakda aapne (There are serious charges against Ramesh Bidhuri, did you catch him),” the complaint quoted Mr. Kejriwal as telling the interviewer.

“Such defamatory statements have been made with the ulterior motive and wrongful intent to malign and tarnish the image of the complainant,” the complaint said.

The MP claimed that no case was pending against him, and the Chief Minister had defamed him by giving such statements.