The CM was granted a bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety bond of the same amount. He now has to appear in the court on April 1
Rejecting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea for not appearing in the court, a Delhi court on Tuesday said exemption can only be granted to the President and Governors. Kejriwal had been summoned in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and cricketer-turned politician Chetan Chauhan.
Kejriwal's counsel VK Ohri had sought exemption for the CM stating that it caused a lot of inconvenience to the common people. Insisting on the CM's presence in the court, however, Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra said, "There is exemption only for the President and the Governors, not the CM."
Kejriwal finally appeared in the court at 3.40 pm, 40 minutes after than the scheduled time. His presence attracted a huge crowd, including litigants. Lawyers, police officers, and security personnel. Only those related to the case were allowed to stay in the room while the rest were asked to move out.
The CM was granted a bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety bond of the same amount. He now has to appear in the court on April 1.
The court, however, granted exemption to complainant Chauhan just for Tuesday, stating that he was recently elected as a minister in Uttar Pradesh and was not able to appear before the court due to his administrative duties.
Meanwhile, suspended BJP MP Kirti Azad, another accused in the case, moved an application seeking a discharge on the grounds that the case was filed against him when Chauhan was DDCA Vice-President but that he did not hold any official position now.
After allegations of irregularities in the cricketing body cropped up, Justice Mukul Mudgal was appointed as the body's administrator. "With the appointment of the administrator, all the erstwhile officials of DDCA were relieved from their duties till the time fresh elections are conducted," Azad's advocate BS Dhir said.
On January 30, the court had summoned Kejriwal and Azad, stating that prima facie their comments had adversely affected the reputation of the cricketing body and its officials. Following the hearing, Kejriwal also met with lawyers at the Tis Hazari Bar Association.
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 "Arvind Kejriwal")
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