Kejriwal gets bail in chief secretary assault case

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and nine legislators of the Aam Aadmi (AAP) were granted bail by a court here on Thursday in the chief secretary assault case.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal granted bail to them on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each and one surety of like amount on conditions that they will not tamper with the evidence or intimidate or approach any witness in the case or try to influence the trial “in any manner.”

The court also directed them to intimate it on change of their address.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail applications of the accused.

Kejriwal, Sisodia and nine AAP legislators, accused in the case appeared before the court on a summon from it in connection with the case.

Delhi police had booked Kejriwal, his deputy and nine legislators under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint from chief secretary Anshu Prakash. The AAP legislators allegedly had roughed up Prakash in presence of Kejriwal at his official residence on February 19.

While granting bail to the accused, the court noted that they cooperated in the investigation and were not arrested during the investigation of the case. It is also was stated by the police in the chargesheet that the need for their arrest did not arise during the investigation.

“Further all accused are highly placed persons and have deep roots in the society and elected Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of Delhi. Therefore, in the facts and circumstances of the case, they are admitted on bail on furnishing the personal bond and surety bond of Rs.50,000/- each,” Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate added.

The court put up the matter for further hearing on December 7 for scrutiny of documents after the prosecution supplied copies of chargesheet and all documents annexed with it, along with the CDs of the incident, to the accused persons.

Acting on the complaint of Prakash in February, Police had arrested two other AAP legislators—Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal—in connection with the case.

They were later granted bail by the Delhi High Court in the case.