Kejriwal released from Tihar jail

New Delhi: Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Tuesday released from Tihar jail here after a court ordered his release from judicial custody in a defamation case.

Kejriwal was received by Aam Aadmi Party leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh along with hundreds of party workers outside the jail's gate No.1 in the evening. He was sent to judicial custody on May 21.

Earlier, Metropolitan Magistrate Gomati Manocha allowed Kejriwal to be released on bail after his counsel told the court that he would furnish a personal bond. Kejriwal agreed to furnish the bond after the Delhi High Court told his counsels Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan that "not to make it a prestige issue".

The High Court bench suggested that Kejriwal, who had initially refused to furnish the bail bond in the trial court, seek bail and allowed the Bhushans to meet him in jail. "Everything can't be an exception for this man," the bench remarked.

Kejriwal on Monday had moved a habeas corpus petition for his immediate release, saying he was "illegally" sent to judicial custody on a "completely wrong premise of law" by the court's orders of May 21 and 23.