Nitin Gadkari withdraws defamation case against Digvijay Singh

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday withdrew the defamation case against Congress leader Digvijay Singh after he expressed regret over his statement.

A joint application for withdrawal of the case was filed before Delhi's Patiala House Court, which has been accepted.

Nitin Gadkari had filed a defamation case against Congress leader Digvijay Singh for dragging his name into alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks.

According to the complaint, Singh had named Gadkari in the allocation of coal blocks to a company belonging to BJP Rajya Sabha member Ajay Sancheti, said to be Gadkari's close associate.

"He (Digvijay Singh) has stated that I have business relations with Ajay Sancheti, MP, and to give the impression that I have been responsible for allocation of coal mines to him, which is totally wrong," Gadkari said.

He added that he has no direct or indirect business relations with Sancheti or his companies. Gadkari said such statements published in newspapers and aired on news channel were totally false.

"These false and defamatory statements have spoiled my reputation and image in the eyes of the society and country. These statements have been made intentionally with the intention and knowledge to harm my reputation and lower my image in the eyes of the public," Gadkari said.

He requested the court to take action against Digvijay Singh under section 499 (Defamation) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and to summon him.

In his complaint filed through advocate Ajay Digpaul and Anil Soni, Gadkari had alleged that Singh had made false, baseless, scandalous, fabricated and defamatory remarks against him.

The applicant said that it was done with wrongful intent to malign and tarnish the image of the complainant.