Photo: X/Arvind Kejriwal
On February 27, 2026, a Delhi court discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the excise policy case, leading to an emotional response from Kejriwal and sharp criticism of the CBI’s investigation. Special Judge Jitender Singh ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the accused.
| Written by Siddhant Bijoliya |
Arvind Kejriwal’s Emotional Reaction
Kejriwal broke down while addressing the media, with Manish Sisodia consoling him. He called the case as the “Biggest political conspiracy” in independent India, alleging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah fabricated it to weaken the AAP.
Kejriwal thanked the judge, stating, “The way they kept repeating ‘Delhi excise scam’… today the court has dismissed the charges… truth prevails”. He declared that the court proved the AAP leaders are “Kattar Imaandar” (extremely honest).
The court highlighted several key reasons to discharge accused
· Lack of Evidence: No “cogent material” linked Kejriwal to any criminal conspiracy, and there was no evidence demonstrating Sisodia’s involvement in the policy’s formulation.
· Investigative Failures: The court criticized the CBI’s chargesheet for multiple gaps, deficiencies, and “misleading averments,” noting that claims were unsupported by witness testimony or documentary evidence.
· Action Against Officials: The court ordered a departmental inquiry against the CBI’s Investigating Officer, signaling serious concerns over the probe’s conduct.
CBI Criticized and Plans to Appeal
The CBI faced severe criticism from the court and has decided to challenge the order. The CBI will appeal to the High Court, claiming several aspects of their investigation were ignored or not adequately considered in the judgment.
The case stemmed from the now-scrapped 2021-22 excise policy, with agencies alleging kickbacks from a ‘South Group’ in exchange for policy concessions.
The Delhi court discharged Arvind Kejriwal and others, citing a complete lack of evidence and blasting the CBI’s investigation as misleading. The judge ordered a departmental inquiry against the investigating officer, exposing serious flaws in the probe. An emotional Kejriwal broke down while hailing the order as a victory of truth over a political conspiracy. However, the legal battle is not over, as the CBI has announced it will appeal the order in the High Court.
