Arvind Kejriwal Given Bail In 2014 Electoral Offence Cases, Delhi CM Appears Before Court

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal granted bail in the Electoral Offences case which was filed against him and other AAP members during 2014 Lok Sabha Elections in Amethi

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail by the Sultanpur district court on Monday.

The Chief Minister was booked in Amethi during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under two cases for allegedly violating the model code of conduct and disturbing communal harmony. 

Kejriwal was granted bail by special judge PK Jayant after the Chief Minister appeared before the court to seek relief in cases involving committing electoral offences, news agency PTI reported. 

The next date for the hearing of the two cases was fixed for November 3 after being granted bail. 

According to Delhi Chief Minister’s counsel Madan Singh, along with Kejriwal, FIRs were lodged against other Aam Aadmi Party members also at the Gauriganj and Musafir Khana Police Stations in Amethi during the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. The FIRs were lodged following an alleged provocative speech by Kejriwal breaching the model code of conduct while campaigning for his party member, Kumar Vishwas. Chargesheet in the Gauriganj case had been recently filed in the court.

The sections under which FIRs were lodged included Section 125 of the Representation of People's Act for promoting enmity between classes in connection with election, Section 143 of the IPC for unlawful assembly, Section 186 of the IPC for obstructing public servants from discharging their duty, Section 341 of the IPC for wrongfully restraining and Section 353 of the IPC for assaulting them to deter them from doing their duty among other charges. 

Kejriwal had been exempted from appearing before the court for this case after he moved the case to the Supreme Court. But now he appeared before the court. 

"As a responsible citizen to get the matter proceeded at the earliest, he appeared before the court willingly. He applied for bail, which was granted to him. The court fixed November 3 as the next date of hearing," told Singh, as quoted by PTI. 

Along with Kejriwal, Kumar Vishwas, Harikrishna, Rakesh Tiwari, Ajay Singh and Bablu Tiwari were also booked in those cases.