NEW DELHI, Feb 27 —The Rouse Avenue Court acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the excise policy case. Special Judge Jitender Singh passed the order closing the case initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case of wrongdoing.
The court maintained that there was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent behind the formulation of the 2021-22 excise policy. While the investigative agencies had previously alleged that the policy was manipulated to favor certain groups for monetary benefits, the judge declared that the case did not withstand judicial scrutiny and appeared to be based largely on conjecture.
“There was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy,” the judge stated during the proceedings. He further noted that the reliance on approver statements to bridge investigative gaps was an improper practice that could undermine constitutional safeguards.
The legal proceedings originated from a complaint in 2022, leading to investigations by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. Manish Sisodia had consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the policy was designed solely to increase government revenue. With this discharge, the court has cleared all 23 accused individuals, including K. Kavitha and Vijay Nair. The court also recommended a departmental inquiry regarding the naming of certain public servants in the initial investigation.
