A Delhi court on Friday discharged all 23 accused in the Delhi Excise Policy case, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and Telangana Jagruthi president K. Kavitha. Special Judge (PC Act) Jitendra Singh ruled that there was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the policy’s formulation, and that the CBI’s prosecution “does not survive judicial scrutiny.”
The court sharply criticised the CBI for attempting to construct a narrative of conspiracy based on mere conjecture and approver statements. “If such conduct is allowed, it would be a grave violation of constitutional principles,” the judge noted, and indicated that a departmental inquiry may be recommended against CBI officials who made public servant Kuldeep Singh the first accused.
The case, filed in 2022 following a complaint by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, alleged manipulation of the 2021–22 Delhi Excise Policy to favour select liquor licensees and facilitate kickbacks. Both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had investigated, with some political leaders arrested, sparking criticism of possible political motivations.
