Delhi court acquits Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in excise policy corruption case, finds no evidence of criminal conspiracy.
Arvind Kejriwal acquitted in the Delhi excise policy case on February 27, 2026. A court in Delhi discharged the former Chief Minister along with Manish Sisodia and 21 others. The Rouse Avenue Court said there was no evidence of criminal conspiracy in the now-scrapped excise policy.
The case related to Delhi’s 2021-22 excise policy. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probed allegations of corruption and irregularities. The agency claimed there was a scam involving undue favours to liquor licence holders. The court found the prosecution failed to provide adequate proof.
The judge ruled that no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent existed in the policy. The CBI could not establish a prima facie case against the accused. The court criticised the investigation for lacking cogent evidence and noted several gaps in the chargesheet.
Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia faced charges in this matter. Kejriwal served about five months in jail during the probe. Sisodia spent around 17 months in custody before getting bail. All 23 accused, including figures like K Kavitha, were discharged.
The court stated that the new excise policy had no criminal purpose. It rejected claims of conspiracy. The decision came after arguments from both sides. The CBI had alleged leaders played central roles, but the court found no material to support this.
After the verdict, Arvind Kejriwal became emotional. He broke down in tears while speaking to the media. He said the case was based on false allegations. Kejriwal called it a big political conspiracy against his party.No direct official court quote on the policy intent was given beyond the lack of criminal purpose. The judgment highlighted the failure to prove charges.The acquittal ends a long legal battle for the Aam Aadmi Party leaders. The policy was scrapped earlier due to the controversy. No further immediate actions from authorities were mentioned in reports.
People connected to the case can now move forward without these charges. The verdict clears the names of all involved. It marks the closure of this high-profile corruption probe in Delhi. The focus shifts back to normal political and governance activities for those acquitted.