Manish Tewari apologises to Nitin Gadkari for Adarsh remark, defamation case withdrawn

MUMBAI: I&B minister Manish Tewari made an an unconditional apology to former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari for alleging that the BJP leader had a benami flat in the controversial Adarsh Society, through the Sancheti family.

Gadkari had in 2010 sued Tewari after the latter had refused to give an unconditional apology. Tewari had earlier made a similar apology to activist Anna Hazare after he threatened to sue him for ‘derogatory’ remarks against him when Tewari was a Congress spokesperson.

Gadkari had filed a case against Tewari and following the apology, Gadkari withdrew the case on Wednesday.

In his letter to Gadkari, Tewari said that while he did make these remarks as Congress spokesperson he has changed his opinion. “After perusal of newspaper reports regarding the judicial commission appointed to investigate in the Adarsh Society scam, it reveals that you have not played any role or you have any concern of whatsoever in the scam.”

“I understand that whatever statements I had addressed in the press conference… were not related to the true facts. I understand that, by such statements you have to suffer huge disrepute and have to face uncomfortable situation within your party and society. Therefore, by this communication, I tender my unconditional apology for the allegations made against you.” Tewari wrote in the letter dated April 26.

Gadkari’s aide said that he was in a function in Haridwar and would hence not be able to make a comment on the matter. Gadkari is pursuing a number of cases against his detractors, including AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Anjali Damania and Congress leader Digvijaya Singh.