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New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will challenge the Delhi court verdict discharging former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the alleged excise policy scam, with plans to file an appeal before the Delhi High Court.
Sources in the agency said the appeal would be filed immediately, arguing that key aspects of the investigation were either overlooked or not adequately considered by the trial court.
The move comes after the Rouse Avenue Court discharged all 23 accused, including BRS leader K. Kavitha, Vijay Nair, and Durgesh Pathak, bringing the high-profile corruption case to a close at the trial stage.
Trial Court Found No Evidence of Criminal Conspiracy
Special Judge Jitender Singh had ruled that the prosecution failed to establish any criminal conspiracy or wrongdoing in the formulation of Delhi’s excise policy.
“There was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy,” the court observed while closing the case.
The case originated from a 2022 complaint filed by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, following which the CBI registered an FIR. It launched an investigation into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy.
Probe agencies had alleged that the policy facilitated illegal benefits and kickbacks to certain entities, accusations consistently denied by the accused.
Legal Battle Likely to Continue as CBI Seeks Review
With the CBI now preparing to challenge the discharge order in the High Court, the legal battle over the controversial excise policy is set to continue.
The High Court will examine whether the trial court erred in discharging the accused and whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed with the prosecution. The outcome of the appeal could have significant legal and political implications, as the excise policy case has remained one of the most closely watched corruption probes involving top political leaders in recent years.
