CHANDIGARH: Delhi chief minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday retracted his allegations that former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia was involved in the drug trade and apologised to him.Kejriwal also submitted a copy of the apology letter to the court that was hearing a defamation case filed by Majithia, brother of Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.Majithia had filed a criminal defamation case on May 20, 2016 against Kejriwal and AAP leaders Sanjay Singh (now a Rajya Sabha MP) and Ashish Khetan for falsely linking him to the drug trade and tarnishing his image. The case is pending in an Amritsar court.Calling the apology a turning point in his life, Majithia said he would now withdraw the defamation case.Reacting to CM Arvind Kejriwal’s apology, SAD MLA Bikram Singh Majithia said at a press conference in Chandigarh, “It was a torturous journey. But I have taken all allegations against me head on.” He added that it was probably the first time in the history of India that a sitting CM had to tender such an apology for unfounded allegations.“I have maintained from day one that either Kejriwal will apologise or he will go to jail. Now that he, as well as Ashish Khetan have apologised, I have asked my counsel to withdraw the defamation case I had filed against them in May 2016. I would only like to tell them that such allegations, which are aimed at tarnishing someone’s image, do not benefit any politician or his party,” Majithia said.In a letter to Majithia that was also filed in the Amritsar court, Kejriwal said, “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. Hence there should be no politics on such issues.”The letter added, “Because of my allegations made against you at various political rallies, public meetings, TV programs, print, electronic and social media, you filed a defamation case against us...I hereby withdraw all my statements and allegations and apologise for the same. The damage caused to your esteem, the hurt caused to your family, friends, well-wishers, followers and the loss caused to you is regretted.”