DDCA defamation case: Court tells Kejriwal to appear on March 21

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra granted bail to Azad, asking him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety of like amount.

New Delhi, Feb 18: A court here on Saturday directed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it on March 21 while it granted bail to suspended BJP parliamentarian Kirti Azad in a defamation complaint filed by the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Chetan Chauhan.

Metropolitan Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra granted bail to Azad, asking him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 10,000 and a surety of like amount.

The court also allowed Kejriwal's plea seeking exemption from personal appearance.

On January 30, the court issued summons to Kejriwal and Azad, asking them to appear before the court on February 18.

Chetan Chauhan, through his advocate Sangram Patnaik, has accused them of defaming the cricket association by passing "scandalous" remarks.

Referring to Kejriwal's interview to a news channel where he said that sexual favours were sought for selecting players, the complainant alleged that "false" charges were levelled against the state cricket association.

The plea claimed that Kejriwal's "false" statements were immediately endorsed and repeated by Azad.

"The aforesaid actions of the accused (Kejriwal and Azad) have severely damaged the credibility and reputation of the complainant (DDCA) in the eyes of thousands of cricket lovers, citizens of India as well as internationally," the complainant told the court. The complainant had requested the court to initiate proceedings against the accused.

IANS