Delhi Court Acquits Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in Liquor Scam Case

In a significant development, a Delhi court has cleared former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia of charges in the liquor scam case. The Rouse Avenue Court stated on Friday that the allegations against both lacked sufficient evidence for conviction. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed a charge sheet against a total of 23 individuals in this case, but the court declined to frame charges against any of them, resulting in their acquittal.

Speaking to the media outside the court, Kejriwal became emotional and expressed his gratitude, stating, “For the past few years, the BJP has been accusing us of involvement in the liquor scam. Today, the court has dismissed all allegations and discharged us. We have always believed in the Indian judicial system. I sincerely thank the judge for delivering justice. Truth has prevailed. God is with us. This is the biggest political conspiracy in independent India orchestrated by Modi and Amit Shah to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party by imprisoning its top five leaders. Such an event has never occurred in the history of independent India. A sitting Chief Minister was dragged from his home and imprisoned for six months, while our Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was held for two years. We were subjected to mudslinging, and debates ran on TV channels 24/7, showcasing false narratives about us.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Kejriwal was comforted by Sisodia, after which he continued, “I have earned my living through honesty. They filed a false case against me, and today it has been proven that I am a staunch honest person. Manish Sisodia is also a staunch honest individual, and the Aam Aadmi Party stands for integrity. I urge the Prime Minister not to play games with the country for power. If you seek power, do good work. The nation faces numerous challenges, including inflation, unemployment, and deteriorating infrastructure. Why do they file false cases against us? Come to power by doing good work instead of fabricating lies and imprisoning opponents. Such actions do not befit the Prime Minister and do not advance the country. The nation will progress only when the people's problems are addressed.”

In response to the court's decision, Sisodia expressed pride in the Constitution and B.R. Ambedkar, who provided such a framework. He stated, “Once again, truth has triumphed.”

The CBI announced plans to appeal the ruling in the Delhi High Court, stating that several aspects of the investigation were overlooked or inadequately considered. They intend to challenge the trial court's decision promptly.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh, an experienced judicial officer in the Delhi Judicial Service, presided over the case. He is currently serving as a Special Judge (PC Act) at the Rouse Avenue District Court Complex in New Delhi, where he handles cases related to the Prevention of Corruption Act, particularly those investigated by the CBI. He obtained his law degree from Delhi University and was appointed as an Additional Sessions Judge in October 2024.