Take bail and then fight: Anna tells Kejriwal

New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested and remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday, slept on floor and was served the routine jail food. “Kejriwal is staying alone in jail number four here, where he is sleeping on the floor and is being served routine jail food. He has also been allowed to take his medicines,” said Tihar spokesperson Sunil Gupta. 

While Kejriwal’s decision of not paying the bail bond has landed him to the jail, social activist Anna Hazare said Kejriwal should take bail and then fight the case.

Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was followed by high voltage drama at Tihar Jail where the former Delhi CM is lodged for two days. Chaotic scenes were witnessed outside the Tihar jail when clashes broke out between AAP supporters and Delhi Police.

Around 70-80 workers including MLAs and other senior leaders were arrested from outside Tihar jail. Police have also imposed section 144 outside the jail premises. Senior leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Manish Sisodia were dragged by the police personnel.

Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody when he refused to submit a bail amount of Rs 10,000 in the case filed by Gadkari in February. AAP has defended Kejriwal saying that the decision to not pay the bail bond was taken on ‘principles’. Kejriwal will be kept in jail number 3 of Tihar in the cell where veteran anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare was lodged in 2011.

As Kejriwal languished inside the jail, fervent protests continued outside the jail premises. Delhi Police cordoned-off the area which was criticised by AAP leaders. “We were merely expressing our solidarity with Kejriwal. We were not causing any obstruction to the traffic or the security of Tihar,” party leader Yogendra Yadav said.

Another AAP leader Manish Sisodia echoed the views of Yogendra Yadav saying, “We are sitting on the foothpath and protesting and that is not wrong.”

AAP termed the decision of the court to send its leader Arvind Kejriwal to jail as “erroneous” and said there was no provision in the law which makes it mandatory for a defendant in a defamation case to furnish a bail bond when he is willimg to remain present for hearing.

“AAP totally disagrees with the decision of the learned Metropolitan Magistrate to send Kejriwal to judicial custody. There is no provision in law which makes it mandatory for a defendant against whom a complaint is filed in a defamation case to furnish a bail bond, particularly when he is ready and willing to be present in the court on the fixed date of hearing,” the party said in a statement.

 

(With PTI inputs)