Still interested in pursuing defamation case? HC asks Kejriwal

New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal whether he was still interested in pursuing the case filed by him against a trial court decision sending him to jail in a defamation case filed by union minister Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari had filed a criminal defamation against Kejriwal after AAP named him on a list of allegedly "India’s most corrupt" politicians in the run-up to the 2014 general election, following which a trial court in May had sent the AAP chief in judicial custody for not furnishing a bail bond.

Kejriwal had refused to furnish a bail bond saying it was not mandatory and he should have been allowed to give a written undertaking instead, and approached the high court. However, on the high court’s suggestion, he had sought bail from the lower court.

Saying, now there is nothing left in the matter in high court as Kejriwal has already furnished his bail bond in the case, a division bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Ashutosh Kumar asked Aam Aadmi Party’s counsel whether the CM "still interested in pursuing the case".

On court’s query, Kejriwal’s counsel told it that he has "not yet decided" whether he will pursue this case.

The counsel added that now advocate Prashant Bhushan is not representing Kejriwal any more so more time is needed to decide on the issue as some other senior counsel will be engaged and sought an adjournment.

The bench suggested that there would be no end to such issues and said it would be better for both the leaders to amicably resolve it.

The Supreme Court on April 17, had stayed Kejriwal’s prosecution in two criminal defamation cases, including the one filed by Gadkari, and also sought a reply from the central government on chief minister’s plea challenging the provision of law that permits initiation of criminal proceedings in a defamation case.

Kejriwal’s plea in high court had questioned whether it is correct to seek bail bonds and sureties from people who are summoned by courts on complaints filed in cases like that of criminal defamation.