New Delhi: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday evening walked out of Tihar jail as he finally agreed to furnish a bail bond before a local court after spending six days in the prison in a criminal defamation case filed by BJP MP Nitin Gadkari.
Kejriwal, who had been lodged in the jail since May 21, came out of Gate no 1 of the prison and was greeted by his supporters. He later returned to his Tilak Road residence.
After refusing to pay the bail bond, the AAP leader backtracked on Tuesday and agreed to furnish one following a suggestion by the Delhi High Court to him to do so.
Earlier in the day, the high court suggested Kejriwal to furnish a bail bond and get released from the jail.
He was sent to judicial custody by the magistrate on May 21 for two days. On May 23, his custody was extended by 14 days till June 6 after he refused to furnish a bail bond when he was granted bail in the case.
The magistrate had refused to review its May 21 order remanding Kejriwal in judicial custody for not furnishing the bail bond and had asked him to approach the higher court, challenging the decision.
The AAP leader was earlier summoned as an accused by the court in connection with the complaint in which Gadkari had alleged that he was defamed by Kejriwal, who had included his name in the party's list of "India's most corrupt."
On May 21, the court had granted bail to Kejriwal, saying the offence under Section 500 of IPC (dealing with defamation) was bailable and had asked him to furnish a personal bond.
He, however, was taken into custody after he refused to give the bail bond, saying the case was politically motivated and he does not wish to seek bail.
He had said that he was ready to give an undertaking that he would appear in the court whenever required.
The court had on February 28 summoned Kejriwal as an accused in the case, observing that statements allegedly made by the AAP leader have the effect of "harming the reputation" of the complainant.
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