Atishi Joins AAP's 'Jail and Bail' Club Amid Defamation Case Saga

BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor criticizes AAP's Atishi, stating she has joined the 'Jail and Bail' group of AAP leaders after her defamation case. The court granted her bail, with the next hearing set for August 8. Atishi alleges BJP's attempts to coerce her to join them through threats of arrest.

BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor, who filed a defamation case against Delhi Minister Atishi over her "poaching" remarks, commented on her joining the "Jail and Bail" group of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders. Kapoor stated, "From today onwards, Atishi has joined the 'Jail and Bail' group of AAP leaders. Now, this will continue. It would have been better if she had apologised and settled this issue. However, she wants to take some time," Kapoor told ANI.

The context involves multiple AAP leaders jailed, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and former Minister Satyendra Jain. AAP's Sanjay Singh is out on bail. The Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday granted bail to Atishi. She appeared in person and provided the bail bond.

Kapoor noted Atishi is adhering to the "judicial procedure," with the next hearing on August 8. "She has not yet appealed to any higher court challenging this case. It seems like she is following the judicial procedure... The next hearing is on August 8," he added.

Petitioner Praveen Kapoor's lawyer, Shoumendu Mukherji, remarked that although there was an attempt by the council to "linger on the matter," Atishi has accepted the court's procedure without challenging the order. "The accused appeared before the court today and furnished her bail bonds. There was an attempt by their council to even linger on the matter. They wanted a very long date to scrutinise the documents... It is a bailable offence. So, there is no condition imposed. She has accepted the court's procedure. She is duly complying with it without challenging the order at a higher court," Kapoor said.

Atishi had alleged the BJP sought to coerce her into joining them with threats of arrest. She stated at a press conference, "The BJP, through one of my close aides, approached me to join their party to save my political career, and if I do not join the BJP, then in the coming month, I will be arrested by the ED."

The AAP leader accused the BJP-led Centre of using probe agencies to intimidate the party. "I want to tell the BJP that we will not be scared of you. We are the soldiers of Arvind Kejriwal. We are aides of Bhagat Singh. We will continue to save the Constitution and will work to give the people a better life under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal," she declared.

Atishi further alleged that ahead of the general elections, more AAP leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Saurabh Bharadwaj, might be arrested by the central probe agency.

(With inputs from agencies.)