In the Delhi excise policy case, a city court on Friday discharged former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 21 others after refusing to take cognisance of the CBI chargesheet.
The order was passed by Special Judge Jitender Singh at the Rouse Avenue Court, who held that the Central Bureau of Investigation failed to present sufficient material to proceed with a trial. The court observed that the chargesheet contained serious gaps and was not backed by adequate evidence.
Court Finds No Prima Facie Case
The judge ruled that no prima facie case was made out against any of the accused. He said the evidence placed on record did not establish enough grounds to frame charges in the alleged corruption case related to the now scrapped Delhi Excise Policy.
The court noted that Kejriwal had been implicated without any cogent material directly linking him to the alleged offence. It also found that the prosecution’s case lacked proper witness statements and corroborative documents.
“The chargesheet contains several lacunae and is not supported by sufficient material to proceed,” the court observed, stressing that a fair investigation is essential to ensure a fair trial.
The court had reserved its verdict on February 12 after hearing detailed arguments from both the CBI and the defence.
Background of the CBI Probe
The case relates to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party government. The policy was later withdrawn amid political controversy and multiple investigations.
The Central Bureau of Investigation had alleged that a so called “south lobby” paid around Rs 100 crore to influence the policy in its favour. The agency filed its first chargesheet in 2022 and later submitted supplementary chargesheets naming 23 accused, including Kejriwal and Sisodia.
During arguments, the CBI maintained that the offence of criminal conspiracy should be examined as a whole and argued that the sufficiency of evidence should be tested during the trial.
However, the defence contended that there was no incriminating material connecting the accused to any alleged conspiracy. The court agreed with this view, holding that the agency failed to make out even a basic case to move forward.
Kejriwal Calls Case “Biggest Political Conspiracy”
Reacting to the order, Kejriwal described the case as the “biggest political conspiracy in the history of independent India.” He said the verdict had vindicated him and his party.
“Truth has won,” he said, asserting that the decision proved the Aam Aadmi Party’s claim of being “kattar imaandar,” meaning completely honest.
Supporters of the party welcomed the order, calling it a significant relief after a prolonged legal and political battle.
