Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, his then deputy Manish Sisodia and 23 others including K Kavitha, Bijay Nair and Durgesh Pathak accused in alleged “ Excise Policy Scam “, were acquitted on Friday by a Delhi Court, exonerating them from all charges framed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Rouse Avenue Court ruled, “ There was no evidence of criminal conspiracy or wrongdoing in the formulation of the excise policy and no evidence has come on record against them and Special Judge (PC Act) Jitender Singh passed the order closing the case initiated by the CBI against all the accused.”
Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024, when he was Delhi CM before India’s general election and remained in jail for over six months, while many other leaders also were jailed for many months.
On Friday, the court cleared Kejriwal and others, saying there was , ” No overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy”.
The judge also criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a shoddy probe and recommended an inquiry against its officials.
The CBI said they would appeal against the verdict.
Following Friday’s order, Kejriwal broke down outside the court while talking to journalists as former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia hugged him.
“In the end, unrighteousness and injustice are defeated and truth alone prevails,” Kejriwal said.
After their arrest, all three AAP leaders spent significant time in jail as they were repeatedly denied bail by the trial court and Delhi High Court before receiving relief from the Supreme Court.
The court also rebuked the CBI for building its case on statements made by approvers – accomplices who turn state’s witnesses in exchange for a pardon or reduced sentences.
“If such conduct is allowed, it would be a grave violation of the Constitutional principles… A fair investigation is essential for a fair trial,” the court said
The liquor policy which led to the arrests of AAP leaders was introduced by the Kejriwal government in 2021, saying it would curb black market sales, increase revenues and ensure even distribution of liquor licenses.
It was withdrawn a few months later after Delhi’s Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena accused AAP of exploiting rules to benefit private liquor barons.
A CBI case was registered in July 2022 on a complaint made by Saxena.
Kejriwal after his acquittal in the case, talking to media persons accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating “the biggest political conspiracy”. He alleged the BJP aimed to finish the Aam Aadmi Party by targeting its top five leaders.
“I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest, God was with us and truth has won”, he stated.
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The verdict in the so-called Excise Policy scam has exposed how political cases can be manufactured and amplified. After months in jail and relentless allegations, the court found no evidence of conspiracy or wrongdoing. This raises a serious and disturbing question — who will be held accountable for misusing investigative agencies and for the precious time, freedom, and reputation taken away from these leaders? Justice delayed for them cannot simply be ignored.