Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia discharged on Friday in the Delhi excise policy case. A Delhi court sharply criticized the CBI and said that the prosecution failed to back its claims with credible evidence.
The court ruled that allegations of a larger conspiracy and criminal intent did not hold up under examination. As a result, it discharged all 23 accused in the case, including former BRS leader K Kavitha.
Delhi Court Verdict in Excise Policy Case
“There was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy,” the court said. Kejriwal reacted strongly to the verdict, describing the case as the “biggest political conspiracy in independent India,” which he claims orchestrated by the BJP to remove the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from power in Delhi.
He added that no one should “play with the country and the Constitution for the sake of power” and emphasized that the ruling shows Kejriwal and AAP are ‘KattarImaandar’ (dead honest).
Court’s Observations and Legal Reasoning
Highlighting the lack of evidence against Kejriwal, Special Judge Jitendra Singh pointed out that serious allegations backed by material evidence. The court indicated that the claim of a central conspiratorial role not upheld without proof. It is remarked that public confidence in the office is compromised if the prosecution’s claims found to lack support.
In addition to Kejriwal and Sisodia, the Delhi court discharged all 21 other accused in this high-profile case. This case led to Arvind Kejriwal resigning as CM, and subsequently, the AAP lost power in Delhi in the next election.
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