Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Friday acquitted former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and several others in the alleged corruption case related to the high-profile excise policy. However, Kejriwal has not yet received any relief in the money laundering case.
The court stated in its decision that prima facie no criminal conspiracy was found. The court was hearing the CBI case. Meanwhile, according to a CBI source, the CBI will approach the Delhi High Court to challenge this decision. Earlier, during a hearing on February 12, the court reserved its decision on the issue of framing of charges. Special Judge Jitendra Singh reserved his order after hearing detailed arguments from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and all the accused. During the hearing, the CBI claimed that the first charge sheet and supplementary charge sheet contained sufficient evidence of conspiracy, while the allegations made by 23 accused, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, were baseless. CBI alleges that the South Lobby had given a bribe of Rs 100 crore to get the Delhi excise case in its favour.
Senior counsel representing Arvind Kejriwal argued that there was no concrete evidence against him. He stated that Kejriwal was performing his official duties as Chief Minister and that there was no evidence linking him to demanding or accepting any bribe. He also stated that Kejriwal’s name was not included in the first charge sheet and three supplementary charge sheets, but was added in the fourth supplementary charge sheet, which is a repetition of the previous charge sheet. During the arguments, the statement of approver Raghav Magunta was also mentioned. The defense stated that there was no direct link to prove that Kejriwal had asked anyone to accept money.
The Delhi government implemented the “Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Complaints of alleged irregularities in the implementation of this liquor policy led the Lieutenant Governor to recommend a CBI investigation. This brought the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 under scrutiny. However, the new liquor policy was later rescinded amid allegations of irregularities in its formulation and implementation.
The CBI registered an FIR in August 2022 against 15 accused in the case for alleged violation of rules and procedural irregularities in the new liquor policy. The ED subsequently initiated a money laundering investigation under the PMLA in connection with the CBI case.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI are conducting separate investigations into the alleged scam in the Delhi government’s new liquor policy. The ED is probing allegations of money laundering in the formulation and implementation of the policy, while the CBI’s investigation focuses on alleged irregularities in the policy’s formulation.
AAP National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “For the past few years, the way BJP was talking about the liquor scam and making allegations against us, today the court has dismissed all the allegations and acquitted all the accused. We have faith in the judiciary. Truth has prevailed. All the big leaders were put in jail to finish off AAP, this was a completely fake case, Kejriwal is not corrupt. I have earned only honesty in my life. The court has said that Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and AAP are staunchly honest. Coming to power by doing good work and then putting us in jail by making false cases does not suit the Prime Minister.”
