Additional Sessions Judge Abhay Thipsay today acquitted Hazare in the case.

Hazare had filed a revision application at the Sessions court soon after his conviction. The social worker was lodged in Yerwada jail only for a day after the government ordered his release immediately. The metropolitan court, however, acquitted Jayashree Khadilkar-Pande, editor of Marathi daily Navakal who was named as an accused, giving her the benefit of the doubt and a warning.

Hazare was later taken into custody after he refused the option offered by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate K H Holambe-Patil that he would be released on a bond of Rs 5,000 for a period of two years due to advanced age and his long stint inpublic service.

On November 4, 1997 Gholap filed a criminal case against Hazare under section 500 IPC (defamation) and Khadilkar under sections 501 and 502 (printing and publishing defamatory matter). Navakal had published an interview with Hazare, in which Hazare had stated that Gholap was found guilty of indulging in corrupt practices following a report by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) into the fraud at Vasantrao Naik Mahamandal.

The trial commenced on July 1 this year.

Setting aside the metropolitan magistrate's order, Judge Thipsay observed that there was no proof that the statements made by Hazare in the Navakal interview were defamatory.