Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday apologised to former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia for making "unfounded" allegations against him over his involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday apologised to former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia for making "unfounded" allegations against him over his involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Majithia had filed a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal and two other AAP leaders for allegedly "tarnishing" his reputation by levelling "false, baseless and malicious charges".
"In the recent past, I made certain statements and allegations against you regarding your alleged involvement in drug trade. These statements became a political issue. Now I have learnt that allegations are unfounded," Kejriwal said in a letter addressed to Majithia.
"I hereby withdraw all my statements and allegations made against you and apologies for the same," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said.
The damage caused to your esteem, the hurt caused to you, your family, friends, well-wishers, followers and the loss caused to you is regretted, he said.
Accusing Majithia of playing with the youth of Punjab by "unleashing narco-terrorism in the state," Kejriwal had once declared that he would "drag" the then Punjab cabinet minister "by his collar" to jail for his alleged role in a multi-million rupee drug racket.
Majithia, who was once probed by the ED in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore money laundering drugs racket case, had often been at the receiving end of Kejriwal's ire during the AAP convenor's rallies in Punjab in the run-up to the Assembly election last year.
Majithia had denied the charges against him.
In May 2016, he filed a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Ashish Khaitan.
Majithia said Kejriwal, Singh and Khaitan have "made it a habit" to target their political opponents by resorting to statements "filled with lies with the sole motive of hoodwinking the people".
"I will not let anyone besmirch my and family's honour. Anyone doing so will have to face the consequences. I am determined to make them face trial and be punished for their misdeeds," the minister had said.
Majithia had filed a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal and two other AAP leaders for allegedly "tarnishing" his reputation by levelling "false, baseless and malicious charges".
"In the recent past, I made certain statements and allegations against you regarding your alleged involvement in drug trade. These statements became a political issue. Now I have learnt that allegations are unfounded," Kejriwal said in a letter addressed to Majithia.
"I hereby withdraw all my statements and allegations made against you and apologies for the same," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief said.
The damage caused to your esteem, the hurt caused to you, your family, friends, well-wishers, followers and the loss caused to you is regretted, he said.
Accusing Majithia of playing with the youth of Punjab by "unleashing narco-terrorism in the state," Kejriwal had once declared that he would "drag" the then Punjab cabinet minister "by his collar" to jail for his alleged role in a multi-million rupee drug racket.
Majithia, who was once probed by the ED in connection with the alleged Rs 6,000 crore money laundering drugs racket case, had often been at the receiving end of Kejriwal's ire during the AAP convenor's rallies in Punjab in the run-up to the Assembly election last year.
Majithia had denied the charges against him.
In May 2016, he filed a criminal defamation case against Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Ashish Khaitan.
Majithia said Kejriwal, Singh and Khaitan have "made it a habit" to target their political opponents by resorting to statements "filled with lies with the sole motive of hoodwinking the people".
"I will not let anyone besmirch my and family's honour. Anyone doing so will have to face the consequences. I am determined to make them face trial and be punished for their misdeeds," the minister had said.