Arvind Kejriwal Acquitted in Liquor Policy Case; Court Terms CBI Probe Misleading

New Delhi:

In a major relief for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has acquitted him of all charges in the alleged excise policy corruption case. Special Judge Jitendra Singh not only cleared Kejriwal but also ordered the acquittal of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and all 23 accused in the case.

While delivering the verdict, the court made sharp observations regarding the functioning and quality of investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The judge stated that the thousands of pages in the chargesheet were filled with material that did not substantiate the statements of witnesses. The court clearly observed that the claims made in the chargesheet were not only insufficient but, in several instances, appeared “misleading.”

In his ruling, Special Judge Jitendra Singh emphasized that the CBI had completely failed to establish a prima facie case against Manish Sisodia. Regarding Arvind Kejriwal, the court noted that he had been implicated in the matter without any concrete evidence. According to the court, the investigating agency was unable to prove the existence of any criminal conspiracy behind the formulation of the excise policy.

Following the verdict, there has been celebration within AAP ranks. Kejriwal described the decision as a victory of his “unyielding honesty.” However, legal experts believe that the CBI may challenge the ruling in a higher court. Additionally, the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is still under judicial process. Nevertheless, the trial court’s decision has provided significant moral and legal relief to the top leadership of AAP.

About Author

Habib Ki Report

See author's posts