Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was today acquitted in a criminal defamation case against him by former JD(U) leader Sabir Ali after the court was told that the two have reached a settlement.

Ali had on September 16 sought a "written apology" from Naqvi, who is minister state for minority affairs in the Modi Cabinet, for allegedly linking him with arrested Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.