Delhi Court stays non bailable warrants against Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Yogendra Yadav

In a huge relief, the Rouse Avenue Court has stayed the non-bailable warrants issued against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Yogendra Yadav in a defamation case filed by a lawyer Surender Sharma. Next date of hearing is on April 29. ACMM Samar Vishal yesterday had issued the NBWs against them in a defamation complaint matter filed by Sharma as his candidature from AAP was cancelled in 2013 Assembly Elections at last moment. NBW was issued against the as nobody from them and their counsels appeared before the court yesterday.

Sharma, in his complaint, had alleged that in 2013 he was approached by volunteers of AAP who had asked him to contest the Delhi Assembly elections on a party ticket, saying Kejriwal was pleased with his social services.

He filled up the application form to contest the polls after being told by Sisodia and Yadav that AAP's Political Affairs Committee had decided to give him the ticket. However, it was later denied to him.

On October 14, 2013, the complainant claimed that articles in leading newspapers carried "defamatory, unlawful and derogatory words used by the accused persons" which have lowered his reputation in the Bar and the society.

Opposing the complaint, the AAP leaders had submitted that cancellation or allotment of an election ticket is the prerogative of the party and the complainant had not divulged correct information as to the cases pending against him.

On the basis of the complaint, the trial court had earlier sought their presence before it in the matter.

It had, however, granted bail to Kejriwal, Sisodia and Yadav after they had appeared before it in pursuance to summonses against them.

The summons were issued on the complaint under sections 499, 500 (defamation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, with the trial court saying there was prima facie material to summon the accused. 

(With agency inputs)