Arvind Kejriwal: former Chief Minister of Delhi, and his deputy, Manish Sisodia, were acquitted of all charges in the Delhi liquor excise policy case on Friday, bringing immense relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The Delhi court held that there was no evidence of corruption or criminal conspiracy in the case, strongly criticizing the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
While delivering the verdict, the court stated that it could not find “any overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” in the scrapped 2021-22 Delhi excise policy. The court stated that the prosecution had failed to prove how the policy resulted in any illegal gain to the accused or any loss to the public exchequer. The court also stated that the CBI seemed to have relied on mere allegations made by other accused persons in the case, rather than presenting concrete evidence.
The verdict is a major political and legal milestone, particularly for Kejriwal, who was arrested in March 2024 while still being the Chief Minister of Delhi. His arrest had sparked a massive political row across the country over the alleged misuse of investigative agencies and the effect of arrests on democratic governance.
Kejriwal, while addressing the media outside the court, was visibly emotional as he remembered the days of incarceration. “A sitting Chief Minister has been dragged from his home and sent to jail. Charges have been repeatedly made to tarnish his image,” Kejriwal said, fighting back his tears. “We always said that the truth is with us. Today, the court has upheld our stand and that of our party,” he added.
The liquor excise policy scandal has been one of the most debated political issues in recent times. The policy, rolled out by the Delhi government, sought to change the way liquor is sold in the city through a privatization and revenue generation model. However, the policy was withdrawn following allegations of kickbacks and irregularities, with investigations being conducted by central agencies.
Commenting on the acquittal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hailed the court’s decision, saying it showed that AAP leaders had been truthful from the start. “This is a purely political case, and there is no truth in it whatsoever,” Mann told NDTV. “Our senior leaders were sent to jail without any concrete evidence. The intention was to weaken the leadership and decision-making apparatus of our party,” he added.
The leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party was taken into custody, but we were confident that justice would be done,” Mann said. He thanked supporters and well-wishers who prayed for the party leaders during the legal struggle. Mann also congratulated other AAP leaders, such as Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair, who were also accused in the case and have now been released.
Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, also shared similar feelings, saying that her husband was arrested “for the sake of power,” which means that political motives were behind the case rather than legal ones. Her words were in line with AAP supporters, who believed that the arrests were an attempt to discredit the party before important elections.
The harsh comments from the court about the investigation process are likely to add fuel to the debate about the performance and independence of central agencies. Experts believe that the case may have wider implications for corruption cases against political leaders.
For AAP, the acquittal is a morale-boosting experience after months of political uncertainty. The party leaders hailed the verdict as a victory for truth and democracy, while the opposition labeled the decision as an intensification of the already polarized political atmosphere.
The verdict is likely to be a defining moment in the history of Indian politics, as it will change the narrative of accountability, investigative agencies, and the law and power dynamic.
Read more…Pakistan and Afghanistan Conflict Escalates Along Border
