Kirti Azad may appear as witness for AAP leaders in defamation case

Former cricketer and BJP MP Kirti Azad --who had brought to fore the alleged irregularities in the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA)--may appear as a witness for the Aam Aadmi Party in the defamation suit filed by union finance minister Arun Jaitley against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and five other AAP five leaders.

Jaitley has sought Rs 10 crore in damages from the AAP leaders for issuing allegedly false and defamatory statements against him and his family in connection with the alleged irregularities and financial mess in DDCA, in his tenure of 13 years as its president.

Jaitley had said the defendants had initiated a malicious campaign against him and his family members from December 15 last year to as a counter-blast" to the CBI raid of bureaucrat in the Delhi Secretariat.

Sources told dna, that the AAP had approached National Capital Territory Cricket Association on the case, along with which Azad has been fighting corruption in cricket. "He has agreed to appear as a witness in this case for AAP leaders as he, along with former players, had also appeared before Justice Lodha panel," a source said.

Sources also said Azad has been approached by top AAP functionaries to join the party.

Kejriwal and the five other leaders were recently summoned as accused by a Delhi court and were asked to appear before it on April 7.

DDCA has also filed a criminal defamation suit against Kejriwal and Kirti Azad.