CBI Embarrassed in Delhi Liquor Scam Case, Court Acquits Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia of All Charges
NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal was implicated ithout any concrete evidence, raising concerns about the rule of law, especially for someone in a constitutional position. The court emphasized that there was no fundamental evidence linking Kejriwal to the alleged conspiracy, making it difficult to sustain the charges against him.Special Judge Jitendra Singh criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for shortcomings in the investigation, stating that the “voluminous charge sheet” contained numerous flaws that were not supported by any witnesses or statements.
Following this observation, the capital’s High Court on Friday morning acquitted Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and his close friend Manish Sisodia of corruption and conspiracy charges related to the Delhi liquor excise policy case. The court said, “There was no larger conspiracy or criminal intent in the policy,” and also criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation for trying to build a ‘case’ based on the claims of other suspects.
As soon as the verdict was announced, Kejriwal broke down on camera outside the court. He wept as he recalled his arrest in March 2024. He told reporters, “I always said that the truth is on our side. A sitting Chief Minister was dragged from his home and thrown into jail. We were smeared with mud.”
Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest was followed by months of high drama, including allegations of medical negligence and an attempt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to ‘kill’ him in jail by denying him insulin. He was not granted bail until September 2024—when the Supreme Court intervened for the second time, ruling that “prolonged imprisonment amounts to a wrongful deprivation of liberty.”
Kejriwal said the court order proves Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders are honest and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of conspiring against the party. The court found no evidence linking Sisodia, accused of overseeing the liquor policy, to the alleged wrongdoings. The judge also said no incriminating material or proceeds from crime were recovered from him.
“For the past few years, the Bharatiya Janata Party has been accusing us in the Delhi excise policy case. Today, the court has dismissed all the allegations against us. We have always said that truth prevails,” Kejriwal told reporters outside the Rouse Avenue Court. “Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah conspired against the AAP and arrested five of the party’s top leaders. They wanted to destroy the AAP. A sitting Chief Minister was arrested. This has never happened in India.” After spending 56 days in jail, Kejriwal was finally released on September 13, 2024, when the Supreme Court granted him bail in the CBI case, even though he had already been granted interim bail in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case. Sisodia remained in jail for approximately 530 days after being arrested by the CBI on February 26, 2023, and by the ED on March 9, 2023. Other accused involved in the alleged liquor scam have also been acquitted.
The Delhi government introduced a revised excise policy in 2021, claiming it would increase revenue and improve the liquor trade. The policy also aimed to increase private participation. However, the liquor policy was withdrawn following allegations of irregularities, prompting Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena to order a CBI investigation. Kejriwal, Sisodia and others were arrested after central agencies ED and CBI claimed the policy favoured certain companies, causing financial losses and indicating corruption – allegations denied by the accused.
