New Delhi, Nov 23: Faced with a legal notice from Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley, Hyderabad-based daily 'Vaartha' today expressed regret over the publication of the news item which claimed that six Central ministers were named by CVC as having allegedly "milked" the public sector units. "Since the newspaper has been misconstrued by some people against Arun Jaitley and other ministers, my clients express regret for the publication of the news item", Anip Sachthey, counsel for the daily said in reply to Jaitley's notice.

The counsel said that the daily categorically stated that the news item did not intend to directly or indirectly suggest that Jaitley has misused any PSU under his ministry.

The daily has neither mentioned or suggested that there have been any incidence or occasion of any such misuse nor are having any material which can suggest that, he said. "The news item which never mentioned any such allegation either against Jaitley or any other minister, has been wrongly construed by some people as if our newspaper is making such assertions against them", he said.

After receipt of the notice, the daily has already published a clarification and regret on the front page of today's issue, the counsel said.

Bureau Report