Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal was released by a city court on Wednesday on an undertaking after he refused to seek bail in a criminal defamation case filed against him by chief minister Sheila Dikshit’s political secretary for his remarks during protests on the power tariff issue. Chief metropolitan magistrate Sanjay Bansal released Kejriwal, who had been summoned by the court, on an undertaking that he would appear on every date of hearing after he refused to seek bail and furnish any personal or surety bond. The court, however, made it clear that the relief would only be “valid till the next date of hearing”, June 5, and asked him to challenge the summons order, if he feels aggrieved. Kejriwal himself argued as his counsel could not enter the courtroom owing to lawyers’ strike at Karkardooma Court. He objected to the complaint on the grounds that it has been filed by Pawan Khera, political secretary of the chief minister, and not by Ms Dikshit herself. “I admit the allegations levelled against me. If Sheila ji thinks that she has been defamed then she herself would have filed the case. This is a proxy complaint and as far as I know, the defamation case has to be filed by the person who has been defamed,” he said. During the hearing, Khera opposed Kejriwal’s argument saying he has been working with the chief minister for part 15 years and if someone defames her, he is also defamed. The court asked Kejriwal to challenge the order if he feels that complainant Khera has no locus standi in the case. The court asked Kejriwal to challenge the order if he feels that complainant Khera has no locus standi in the case. Khera had filed the defamation complaint saying Kejriwal had used “filthy” language against Ms Dikshit.
