After Apology, Delhi High Court Acquits Arvind Kejriwal And Others In Arun Jaitley Defamation Case

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday acquitted Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders in a criminal defamation case filed by Union Minister Arun Jaitley, as reported by The Indian Express.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal considered the joint application filed by Jaitley and Kejriwal through their respective counsels.

Jaitley had on August 5, 2017, filed two civil defamation cases of Rs 20 crore against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders for making “false, scandalous and defamatory” allegations against him.

Kejriwal apologises

Seeking to settle the criminal defamation case, Kejriwal had filed an application in the Delhi High Court on April 2 after he apologized to Jaitley and his family members for corruption accusations during his 13-year stint at the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

In his apology letter, Kejriwal wrote, “I was misinformed. These allegations 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 Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). However, I have recently discovered that the information and the imputations contained therein are unfounded and unwarranted and I was clearly misinformed into making these allegations.”

“The disparaging and malicious statements made by his counsel Ram Jethmalani were without his knowledge and/instructions. I reaffirm what I said earlier, I do not approve of these statements,” Kejriwal further stated in his letter.

Apart from Kejriwal, a written apology was also tendered by the AAP convener and party leaders Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh and Raghav Chaddha.

However, one of the five leaders, Vishwas, has not yet tendered an apology; therefore the proceedings against him will continue.