Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 25 withdrew from Delhi High Court his case filed against a trial court decision that sent him to jail in a defamation complaint by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Ashutosh Kumar allowed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Kejriwal to withdraw the case after his counsel pleaded that he did not want to pursue the matter anymore.
"The request (to withdraw the petition) is allowed," the bench said.
Kejriwal's counsel Rishikesh Kumar made the submission before the bench following the court's earlier query whether Kejriwal was still interested in pursuing his case.
Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport, agreed with Kejriwal's counsel's submission without any objections.
During the last hearing on April 27, Kejriwal had sought time from the high court to decide on the issue as he was undecided about pursuing the case.
On April 17, the Supreme Court had stayed Kejriwal's prosecution in two criminal defamation cases, including the one filed by Gadkari, and also sought a reply from the Centre on the CM's plea challenging constitutional validity of the penal provisions.
The bench had further said that the petition was "infructuous" while noting that Kejriwal had already furnished his bail bond.
{{/usCountry}}The bench had further said that the petition was "infructuous" while noting that Kejriwal had already furnished his bail bond.
{{/usCountry}}The court's observations had come during the hearing of Kejriwal's plea on whether it was correct to seek bail bonds and sureties from people who were summoned by courts in cases like criminal defamation.