Delhi HC to Hear Plea Against Kejriwal's Acquittal
The Delhi High Court is set to hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) plea against the discharge of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case on March 9th. The hearing will review the CBI's challenge to a lower court's decision to acquit the Aam Aadmi Party leaders.
The case originates from Delhi's 2021-22 excise policy, which ended the government's role in the retail sale of liquor to allow private vendors. The policy was scrapped in July 2022 after Delhi's Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena recommended a CBI probe based on a report by the Chief Secretary alleging procedural lapses and undue benefits to license holders. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders manipulated the policy to grant licenses in exchange for kickbacks amounting to ₹100 crore from a lobby dubbed the "South Group." The agencies claimed profit margins for private players were deliberately increased from 5% to 12% to facilitate these payments. The investigation led to high-profile arrests. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February 2023 and spent over 17 months in jail before securing bail. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024 and spent nearly five months in jail during his tenure as Chief Minister. On February 27, 2026, a special court at Rouse Avenue discharged all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and Sisodia. The judge delivered a sharp rebuke to the CBI, stating the prosecution's case was based on "conjecture," failed judicial scrutiny, and was insufficient to even frame charges. The court also ordered a departmental inquiry against the CBI's investigating officer. In its 974-page petition to the High Court, the CBI called the trial court's order "patently illegal, perverse" and argued the judge conducted a "mini-trial" instead of simply deciding on the framing of charges. The agency contends that its evidence was selectively read and key findings were ignored. Following the acquittal, Kejriwal, who broke down while addressing the media, called the case the "biggest political conspiracy in independent India" designed to crush the AAP. The BJP, however, termed the discharge a "technical" issue, pointing to allegations of destroyed evidence as a reason for the lack of proof.
