New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday cleared former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former deputy Manish Sisodia in a case related to alleged corruption in framing a new liquor policy in the national capital.
The court observed that the evidence on record did not establish any larger conspiracy or deliberate criminal intent in the formulation of the excise policy, according to media reports.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it would immediately file an appeal before the High Court. The agency maintained that several aspects of its investigation were either ignored or not adequately considered in the judgment.
After the ruling, Kejriwal broke down while speaking to reporters. Kejriwal said he was not corrupt and that the court had declared both him and Sisodia honest. He further described the excise case as the biggest political conspiracy in the history of Independent India.
The case, widely known as the Delhi liquor policy case, had caused significant political trouble for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership when they were in power in Delhi.
Kejriwal and 22 others, including Sisodia, are facing prosecution in the multi-crore excise policy cases. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have alleged that the Delhi government’s 2021-22 liquor policy was framed to benefit certain licensees in exchange for kickbacks. These funds were allegedly routed into the AAP’s Goa election campaign.
The CBI registered the case in August 2022 under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and destruction of evidence. Charges were also filed under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency has accused Kejriwal and others of direct involvement in the formulation of the policy.
According to the agency, a “south lobby” allegedly paid Rs 100 crore to influence the excise policy in its favour.
