Matter of principle: Kejriwal jailed after refusing to pay bail in defamation case by BJP

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has been jailed in judicial lock-up after refusing to pay Rs 10,000 bail in a criminal defamation case over having called another politician a thief in January and including him in a list of “India’s most corrupt”.

Kejriwal said he would not pay the bail in the defamation case, filed by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari in Patiala House court in Delhi, out of principle because it was a political case. “I am ready to go to jail. We are setting precedence. I am not saying that give this treatment only to me. Give it to all,” he told the magistrate. [NDTV]

Comments

rkaran22 21 May 2014, 14:06
+8 -5
Well, good for Kejriwal where he believes himself to be above law.
Basically bail bond is the legal procedure established by courts where accused furnishes guarantee to return to court at time when called before court regardless of whether the person is found guilty or not guilty of the crime accused.
In such Kejriwal tries to develop its own mechanism and challenging the due procedure of court established by law.
Bruh 21 May 2014, 18:10
+3 -6
Dude, Mahatma Gandhi had also refused bail once. That makes him greater than (or at least equal to) Gandhi.

What would be more interesting is whether AAP will field him as a candidate in the future, now that he is also a tainted politician with a criminal record.

Even more interesting would be to watch the impending ache din of Fascism.
midhunraja 21 May 2014, 19:59
+3 -5
[quote name="rkaran22"]Well, good for Kejriwal where he believes himself to be above law.
Basically bail bond is the legal procedure established by courts where accused furnishes guarantee to return to court at time when called before court regardless of whether the person is found guilty or not guilty of the crime accused.
In such Kejriwal tries to develop its own mechanism and challenging the due procedure of court established by law.[/quote]
rkaran22, I understand your contempt for Mr. Kejriwal for this not bowing down to procedure as is being followed, but then it is a judicial question and the first thing we need to do is put aside prejudice. If you get over the strong emotions he has evoked in you, in this case atleast I think he has a point.
rkaran22 22 May 2014, 06:00
+3 -0
Kejriwal should have been released on his own recognisance / on his own bond. The magistrates often think mechanically (laments the Supreme Court now and then). An ex-CM will not run away from the country or become a fugtive.

You need to refresh your knowledge of legal procedure.
vijaymvaghela 21 May 2014, 18:06
+5 -4
Arvind kejriwal required to take some lesson of law. It is necessary that he should be made law abiding citizen. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Prashant Bhushan, for the reasons best known to him- is not giving him true and correct legal advice.
Kindly Advise Mr. Arvind Kejriwal that " brand Kejriwal" is no more popular and product is loseing-Truthfullness.Sympathy from AAM Paublic- those-highly educated now realised that Mr. kejriwal and Team is more dangerious so Common Men then to Congress.
Let God sent back Keriwal to Annaji and let Shri Prashant Bhushan- seek justice under" Coomon Cause" society from the Courts in India- then the masses of India.
from Vijaymvaghela- advocate
midhunraja 22 May 2014, 04:28
+2 -0
[quote name="vijaymvaghela"]Arvind kejriwal required to take some lesson of law. It is necessary that he should be made law abiding citizen. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Prashant Bhushan, for the reasons best known to him- is not giving him true and correct legal advice.
Kindly Advise Mr. Arvind Kejriwal that " brand Kejriwal" is no more popular and product is loseing-Truthfullness.Sympathy from AAM Paublic- those-highly educated now realised that Mr. kejriwal and Team is more dangerious so Common Men then to Congress.
Let God sent back Keriwal to Annaji and let Shri Prashant Bhushan- seek justice under" Coomon Cause" society from the Courts in India- then the masses of India.
from Vijaymvaghela- advocate[/quote]
[quote name="vijaymvaghela"]Arvind kejriwal required to take some lesson of law. It is necessary that he should be made law abiding citizen. It is most unfortunate that Mr. Prashant Bhushan, for the reasons best known to him- is not giving him true and correct legal advice.
Kindly Advise Mr. Arvind Kejriwal that " brand Kejriwal" is no more popular and product is loseing-Truthfullness.Sympathy from AAM Paublic- those-highly educated now realised that Mr. kejriwal and Team is more dangerious so Common Men then to Congress.
Let God sent back Keriwal to Annaji and let Shri Prashant Bhushan- seek justice under" Coomon Cause" society from the Courts in India- then the masses of India.
from Vijaymvaghela- advocate[/quote]

Again, here I see some political overtones for a legal question.
Should a person be enlarged on bail on his own cognizance or not ? is the basic core question and I hope this case goes up to the High Court and this principle gets more publicity which it duly and properly deserves. Ofcourse a lot of our brother advocates might not like the effect of this but then we are here for justice and Fiat justitia ruat caelum.
Hoodibaba 21 May 2014, 18:32
+5 -3
There seems to be a genuine point here coming from some one who is known for lot of drama.

The accused in the case clearly and unequivocally gave an undertaking that the will attend the court and that his word should be taken by the court. I do not see anything wrong with that.

The Court wanted Rs. 10,000/- which it self has said is not a great deterrent for people who want to abscond. Under these circumstances why make the person pay Rs. 10,000/- only for the heck of technicality.

Is the court convinced the accused would come to attend trial ? If yes, let him go. If not put him in custody, irrespective of how much is the bail bond the accused offers. That is the simple aspect one needs to look at.

I thank Mr. Kejriwal for this effort, some one had to bell the cat on the bail being so done mechanically and the concept of people being enlarged on bail on their own cognizance as is done in west must be implemented here when we already have flexibility in law as it stands, which does permit the court to do so.
Late Night Lawyer 22 May 2014, 05:09
+4 -0
Last time I checked, there was no precedent of letting someone go without a bond or surety, on a personal undertaking. Imagine Raja or for that matter, a rapist doing that. Lets be clear that these technicalities make our law beautiful and strong.

However, I would use this drama by Kejriwal to highlight another issue i.e. abolishing Criminal Defamation sections altogether. At max, it can be a civil offense, not a criminal one. Imagine your being in Jail for calling a leader corrupt which by the way, we do everyday. :)
@ Late Night Lawyer 22 May 2014, 06:02
+2 -0
I don't think you really "checked". The CrPC provides for release on own bond and there are judgements on release on own recognisance. Here's one: http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1485772/?type=print
Kejru 21 May 2014, 19:48
+1 -0
Kejriwal is the next PM... He is like a boutique law firm...
Mr Kejru 22 May 2014, 08:55
+0 -0
Got it...saab kuch boutique law firm banado....kabi college ko kabhi PM ko...Dude you literally know the meaning of "boutique law firm"..!!
vilas 22 May 2014, 06:12
+5 -2
Indian Judges lament a lot in their orders and judgement , and take most things as a personal affront.( remember a recent sc judgement). they should be more objective.they should unnecessarily justify at lengths for their orders. here the judge should have been more objective and given short objective order like i have not been pointed out any precedent and ratio laid down, and it is left for me only to commit him to judicial custody, or something to that effect. no need to get colored by politics or ask whether he wants any special treatment and behave like aam adami ( it probably means the magistrate thinks aam adami should follow the procedural orders even if if he thinks it degrading for him to do so.)
midhunraja 22 May 2014, 10:57
+0 -1
For the benefit of all:

I took the liberty to make a typed true copy of the order as I got from the images published on Indiatoday.

The Link to a true copy of the order on Scribd here.[url]http://www.scribd.com/doc/225606695/Arvind-Kejriwal-Refusal-to-Furnish-pay-for-Bail-Bond-Remand-Order-21-May-2014[/url]
Advocate Ajith 23 May 2014, 11:51
+3 -0
Court should not interfere in this matter. It is a political prejudice and calling the politician as thief is not a big thing. It is so common in Indian Political System.
midhunraja 26 May 2014, 03:25
+0 -0
To buttress my point on the bail the travesty of justice in the following case would be a good example.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Boy-spends-one-year-in-jail-for-stealing-Rs-200/articleshow/9401616.cms

Ofcourse the details in news paper cannot be relied upon. There is the element of ATM card loss too which was only cursorily covered under the news article but even then the main aspect of bail still remains.