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New Delhi: In a major legal and political development, a Delhi court on Friday acquitted former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the alleged excise policy scam, ruling that there was no evidence of criminal conspiracy or wrongdoing.
Special Judge Jitender Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court discharged all 23 accused, including BRS leader K. Kavitha, Vijay Nair, and Durgesh Pathak, and closed the case initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
“There was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy,” the court said, observing that the prosecution failed to present credible evidence to sustain the charges.
The court noted that the CBI’s case was largely based on conjecture and approver statements that could not withstand judicial scrutiny, and held that no prima facie case was established against any of the accused.
Court Criticises Probe, Says Allegations Lacked Evidence
The case originated from a 2022 complaint filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, after which the CBI and, later, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched investigations into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped excise policy introduced in November 2021.
Probe agencies had alleged that the policy increased wholesale profit margins from 5 per cent to 12 per cent and resulted in cartelisation and illegal kickbacks to the ruling party.
However, the court rejected the conspiracy narrative, stating that serious allegations must be supported by solid evidence and not assumptions.
In a strong observation, the court also said granting pardon to accused persons and using their testimony to fill investigative gaps without independent corroboration would violate constitutional safeguards.
The court further recommended a departmental inquiry against CBI officials for improperly naming a public servant as the primary accused without sufficient evidence.
Kejriwal Emotional, Calls Verdict ‘Victory of Truth’, Alleges Political Conspiracy
Reacting to the verdict, Kejriwal became visibly emotional and described the ruling as a triumph of truth and justice.
“I am not corrupt. The court has said Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest. Today, truth has won. Satyamev Jayate,” he said, addressing party workers and supporters.
Kejriwal alleged that the case was part of a political conspiracy aimed at weakening the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of targeting the party’s leadership.“We were jailed, defamed, and called corrupt. But today, the court has proven that all accusations were baseless,” he said.
Sisodia also welcomed the verdict, saying it reaffirmed his faith in the Constitution and the justice system. The ruling marks a dramatic turn in one of India’s most high-profile political corruption cases, which had triggered arrests, political confrontations, and national debate since 2022.
