After months of court hearings, political attacks and time spent in jail, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal broke down in tears on Friday as a city court cleared him in the Delhi excise policy case. Standing outside the courtroom, visibly emotional, he said the verdict proved that “truth has prevailed.”
The judgment was delivered by the Rouse Avenue Court, which acquitted Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and other accused in the case. The court said the prosecution had failed to establish evidence of criminal conspiracy or corruption in the now-scrapped 2021-22 liquor policy.
The case had triggered a major political storm. Allegations surfaced that the excise policy unfairly benefited certain liquor traders, prompting an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Separate probes under money-laundering laws were also launched. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia were arrested at different stages, turning the case into one of the most high-profile political investigations in recent years.
For supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Friday’s verdict was a moment of relief. Party workers gathered outside the court, celebrating and hugging each other as the news spread. Many described the decision as vindication after what they called a long and difficult period.
However, the legal chapter may not be fully closed. The CBI has announced it will challenge the acquittal in a higher court, arguing that there are grounds to contest the decision.
The excise policy case had dominated headlines and shaped political debate in Delhi, affecting governance and election narratives. With the court clearing the former leaders, attention now shifts to the possibility of an appeal and its wider political consequences.
For Kejriwal and Sisodia, the ruling marks a significant personal and political turning point after a prolonged legal battle that deeply impacted their careers and public image.
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