Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to drop the Rs 20 civil defamation cases against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders after the latter submitted written an apology letter to the senior BJP leader

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is likely to drop the Rs 20 crore civil defamation cases against Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders after the latter wrote an apology letter to the senior BJP leader.

Jaitley's counsel M Dogra confirmed the development. He told ANI that Arun Jaitley has accepted their (Kejriwal and other AAP leaders) apology in the civil defamation cases, and the cases are likely to be withdrawn.

However, it's not confirmed if Jaitley may withdraw the criminal cases against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders as well.

"We've moved the Delhi High Court for civil matters and Patiala House court for criminal complaints. In the civil case, we'll agree to a decree in the matter based on an apology and acceptance thereof," Dogra said.

Earlier today, an aide of Kejriwal said that a joint petition will be filed by the AAP leaders and Jaitley in a Delhi court later on Monday, seeking to withdraw a defamation case filed by the Finance Minister.

Jaitley had filed two defamation cases against Kejriwal. The first was filed in December 2015 against him and several other Aam Aadmi Party leaders for accusing Jaitley of irregularities and financial bungling during his 13-year tenure as president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

The second case was filed in May 2017 against the Aam Aadmi Party leader over the use of an objectionable word by his counsel Ram Jethmalani during the hearing for the first defamation case.

This is the fourth apology that Kejriwal has tendered recently to rid himself of defamation suits. The Delhi chief minister had earlier apologised to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Congress leader Kapil Sibal's son Amit and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia.