Defamation cases: Arun Jaitley accepts Kejriwal's apology, to move court

NEW DELHI: Shortly after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking apology for making unverified accusations against him, both the parties moved a joint application for withdrawal of civil defamation cases in the Delhi High Court and criminal complaints in Patiala House court.

"Arun Jaitley has accepted their (Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders) apology. We have moved Delhi High Court for civil matters and Patiala House court for criminal complaints. In civil case, we will agree to a decree in the matter based on apology and acceptance thereof," M Dogra, Arun Jaitley's counsel told ANI.

The Courts will take up the matter on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Ashutosh, Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh apologised to Jaitley for making unverified accusations against him.

Four AAP leaders have apologised to Jaitley in letter and requested him to take back a defamation case filed in a Delhi court. "I have made certain statements about you in December 2015 and thereafter in connection with your tenure as the President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. These allegations also form a part of the subject matter of proceedings currently pending adjudication before the Hon'ble Delhi High Court and Ld. CMM, Patiala House Court, New Delhi," reads the letter signed by Kejriwal.

"These allegations were made by me were based on information and papers furnished to me by certain individuals who represented to have first-hand insight into the affairs of DDCA. However, I have recently discovered that the information and the imputations contained therein are unfounded and unwarranted and I was clearly misinformed into the making of these allegations," the letter added.

Kejriwal in recent weeks has issued a number of apologies to political rivals. Early March, he had apologised to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for accusing him of trafficking drug money in Punjab. He then apologised to Union minister Nitin Gadkari for unverified allegations made against him.