Defamation case ends after CM retracts statement

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday retracted his statement in a defamation suit filed by Avtar Singh Bhadana, former Congress MP from Faridabad, stating that he was misinformed by his former colleagues, which led him to make remarks against Bhadana.

In a submission made in the court, Bhadana said that since Kejriwal has retracted his earlier statement, he does not want to proceed further with the case and the same should be withdrawn. The submission made by both sides was accepted by Additional District Judge Surinder S Rathi, who disposed off the case accordingly.

According to the application moved by Bhadana, Kejriwal has admitted that he made the statement on the basis of the advice given to him by some of his former colleagues and now that he has found that he had been misinformed, he has retracted his statement. It added that the CM has admitted that he had no intention to defame Bhadana and malign his reputation.

The court was hearing the defamation suit filed by Bhadana, wherein he had contented that Kejriwal publicly made a defamatory statement against him on January 31, 2014. The plea further stated that despite sending a legal notice to Kejriwal, the AAP leader neither withdrew his comments, nor apologised.

The former MP had filed the civil defamation suit against Kejriwal, alleging that the AAP leader tarnished his image by branding him as "corrupt". He had sought Rs one crore in damages from the CM