NEW DELHI: Anshuman Mishra has apologised to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership for levelling allegations against some of the party leaders of seeking monetary help and other benefits from him. Mishra retracted his statements accusing the BJP leaders after party MP and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, threatened to file a defamation case against him.
Mishra claimed that he decided to apologise after an appeal from the BJP top brass to let the matter rest.
"It hurts me to see being branded as working against the party. I decided to take a step back and accept maybe it was my assumption that I was close to the party. If the party doesn't have the same version, maybe it's time to tender an apology," said Mishra.
Jaitley had decided to file a defamation case against Mishra following allegations that he (Jaitley) had sought favours from him, including watching a cricket match at the Lord's in a privileged seating.
Mishra, a UK-based businessman, had on Sunday alleged that he introduced Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi to senior executives of 2G scam accused companies when the panel was probing the 2G spectrum case.
He had been planning to contest as an independent candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand with BJP's support, but had to withdraw following charges by senior party leaders that money was being used to buy Rajya Sabha seats.