The court discharged both Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the long-running case linked to the capital’s excise policy.
In a significant development, the court also refused to take cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged corruption case tied to the policy.
Soon after the ruling, Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal, responded on social media platform X, expressing relief over the outcome. She said, “In this world, no matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot rise above Shiva Shakti. Truth always prevails.”
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The verdict marks a major turn in the high-profile case that had remained under investigation for several years, with political ramifications for the ruling party in Delhi.
What is the Delhi Excise Policy case?
The controversy traces back to the Delhi government’s Excise Policy 2021–22, introduced as a structural overhaul of the capital’s liquor trade. The policy ended direct government involvement in retail liquor sales, handing operations to private vendors while retaining regulatory control at the wholesale level.The AAP government had positioned the move as an anti-corruption reform aimed at dismantling entrenched cartel systems, improving consumer experience, and boosting revenue.
However, the policy soon came under scrutiny after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a probe by the CBI in 2022, citing alleged irregularities in how the policy was framed and implemented. The government later withdrew the policy and reverted to the earlier regime.
The CBI registered a case alleging that certain modifications to the policy favoured select licensees, including claims of a ₹100 crore kickback linked to a so-called “south lobby.” Multiple chargesheets followed. Parallelly, the Enforcement Directorate initiated a money laundering investigation based on the same case.
Sisodia, who oversaw the excise portfolio, was arrested by the CBI in February 2023 and later stepped down from the cabinet. Kejriwal was subsequently arrested by the ED, sparking political protests by the AAP.
Both leaders have consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the case was politically motivated and that investigative agencies were being used to target the elected government in Delhi.
