Delhi Court Clears AAP Leaders in Liquor Policy Case

Court Discharges AAP Leaders

A court in Delhi announced on Friday that it has discharged Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia from the liquor policy case initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The Rouse Avenue Court stated that there was no evidence of a conspiracy or criminal intent related to the excise policy.

Additionally, the court discharged 21 other individuals, including former Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K Kavitha.

The court criticized the CBI for including Kejriwal and Sisodia as accused without substantial evidence, highlighting that the chargesheet contained numerous inconsistencies lacking witness support.

The bench indicated it would recommend a departmental inquiry into the CBI officials responsible for naming a public servant as the primary accused.

In response to the ruling, Kejriwal expressed that the truth had prevailed.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating a significant political conspiracy aimed at undermining the AAP.

Kejriwal remarked that he was unjustly taken from his home and imprisoned.

Sisodia stated that despite all efforts by Modi's party and their agencies to portray them as corrupt, it has been demonstrated that both he and Kejriwal are committed to honesty.

Kejriwal, who was serving as Delhi's chief minister, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2024.

In July 2024, he received interim bail from the Supreme Court but remained incarcerated due to a CBI arrest in June 2024.

He was ultimately released in September 2024 after the Supreme Court granted him bail in the CBI case.

Background of the Allegations

The CBI had claimed there were irregularities in the Delhi government's liquor excise policy, which was repealed following the allegations. The Enforcement Directorate also initiated a money-laundering investigation based on the CBI's findings.

This policy was implemented in November 2021 and was withdrawn in July 2022 after the Delhi Lieutenant Governor recommended an inquiry into the alleged irregularities.

According to the two central agencies, the AAP government modified the liquor policy to increase the commission for wholesalers from 5% to 12%, which allegedly allowed for bribes from wholesalers with significant market shares.

The AAP has consistently denied these allegations.

Sisodia, who served as the deputy chief minister, was arrested by the CBI in February 2023 on corruption charges related to this case, followed by his arrest by the ED a month later.

He was granted bail nearly 17 months later in August 2024.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.