Gadkari filed the case in December 2010 when Tewari was a Congress spokesperson. He had allegedly accused Gadkari of holding a benami flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh Society here.
"Gadkari appeared before the court and stated on oath that the statement made by Tewari was defamatory, and sought issuance of process against the latter," said advocate Rameshwar Gite, the BJP leader's lawyer.
Gadkari says in the complaint that this was false and defamatory and Tewari be tried for criminal defamation under the Indian Penal Code.