Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue court on Friday acquitted former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in 2022 Delhi excise policy case.Special judge Jitendra Singh pronounced the order in the case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court observed that the alleged central conspiratorial role could not be substantiated. The bench also noted that the allegations “failed judicial scrutiny” and found “no criminal intent” on the part of Manish Sisodia. It further stated that the conspiracy theory “cannot survive against one constitutional authority.”The court had earlier reserved its decision on 12 February after hearing detailed arguments from the CBI and the accused, including Kejriwal and Sisodia, along with 21 others.Also read: Delhi Liquor Policy Case News Live Updates: CBI to move Delhi HCKejriwal broke down emotionally after being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case by the Rouse Avenue Court.Addressing supporters after the court’s order, Kejriwal said, “I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest,” asserting that the verdict had vindicated both him and senior party leader Manish Sisodia.In a post on ‘X’, Kejriwal’s wife, Sunita Kejriwal said, “In this world, no matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot rise above Shiva Shakti. Truth always prevails.” At the time the case was registered, Kejriwal was serving as chief minister and Sisodia as his deputy.The CBI plans to file an appeal against the court’s decision acquitting former Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others. Sources told TOI, that agency is expected to approach a higher appellate court at the earliest.The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2022, followed by multiple supplementary chargesheets. The agency has alleged that Rs 100 crore was paid by a “south lobby” to influence the now-scrapped excise policy in its favour.Also read: Full list of 23 accused acquitted in Delhi excise policy case: Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha and othersIn total, 23 accused were chargesheeted, including Kejriwal, Sisodia, K Kavitha, Kuldeep Singh, Narender Singh, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Mootha Goutam, Sameer Mahendru, Amandeep Singh Dhall, Arjun Pandey, Butchibabu Gornatla, Rakesh Joshi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Prince Kumar, Chanpreet Singh Rayat, Arvind Kumar Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Chadra Reddy.Also read: What’s next for Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia? CBI to file appeal against acquittal in Delhi excise policy caseDuring arguments, the CBI maintained that the offence of criminal conspiracy must be viewed in its entirety and that the sufficiency of evidence should be tested during trial.Represented by additional solicitor general D P Singh and advocate Manu Mishra, the agency argued that there is adequate material to frame charges against all the accused.On the other hand, senior advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Kejriwal, contended that there is no incriminating material linking his client to the alleged conspiracy. He argued that the fourth supplementary chargesheet naming Kejriwal merely repackages earlier allegations and that Kejriwal was performing his official duties as chief minister.Hariharan further submitted that Kejriwal was not named in the initial chargesheet or in three earlier supplementary chargesheets, and that his name appeared only in the fourth. The defence also questioned the basis of further investigation and the evidentiary value of statements, including that of approver Raghav Magunta.
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