Delhi: AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi granted bail

New Delhi, Nov 27: AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi was today granted bail by a Delhi court a day after he was arrested and sent to judicial custody for repeatedly defying direction for appearance in a 2013 case of rioting and criminal intimidation.

Metropolitan Magistrate Kapil Kumar released Tripathi on furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000. Tripathi, an MLA from Model Town constituency, had moved the bail application last evening.

The court had yesterday said that Tripathi misused the liberty of bail and had no respect for court orders. It directed that he be taken into custody so that his appearance could be secured and the case be tried expeditiously as per the Supreme Court's directions as it relates to a sitting MLA.

The court had on November 23 issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Tripathi, the fifth lawmaker of the ruling party to be arrested, for his non-appearance.

It had said that the record revealed that the MLA misused the liberty given to him by virtue of bail several times and earlier also NBWs were issued against him on October 9.

It also noted that the legislator had moved several exemption applications, including when he wanted to go to Bihar to attend oath ceremony of chief minister, which were allowed.

In 2013, an FIR was registered against Tripathi, Rahul Kumar, Vikas Mandal, Inder Vikram Singh and Kanhaiya Kumar Jha for alleged offences under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (causing simple hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

According to police, a case was lodged against Tripathi and four other accused on March 9, 2013 following allegations that on March 8, 2013, they along with other AAP supporters had gathered at G T Karnal Road near Lal Bagh Azadpur and entered into a quarrel with complainant Bittu Jha.

The FIR registered at Adarsh Nagar Police Station in north-west Delhi said that during the altercation, the accused allegedly assaulted the complainant in which he sustained injuries.

PTI