Kejriwal Breaks Down as Court Clears Him in Liquor Case
AAP Chief Calls Arrest ‘Political Conspiracy’, Court Slams CBI Probe
- Special Court discharges Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others
- Court says no prima facie case, terms CBI theory “conjecture”
- Kejriwal breaks down, says case was fabricated
- BJP had swept 2025 Delhi polls amid probe fallout
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Feb: A visibly emotional Arvind Kejriwal broke down in tears after a Special Court discharged him and 22 others in the Delhi liquor policy case, bringing a dramatic turn to a legal battle that had reshaped Delhi’s political landscape.
Kejriwal, the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested in India, recalled being picked up from his Delhi residence and jailed for six months. “To destroy AAP, its five biggest leaders were put in jail. Even a sitting Chief Minister was dragged from his home and imprisoned. The case was entirely fabricated,” he said.
The case stemmed from alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had accused the AAP government of framing the policy to benefit select private players through reduced licence fees and fixed profit margins, leading to alleged kickbacks.
Addressing reporters, Kejriwal accused the Centre of orchestrating a “big political conspiracy” against him and his party. Overcome with emotion, he paused mid-sentence and covered his face as tears flowed. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who stood beside him, embraced him as supporters urged him to stay strong.
“I have only earned my living through honesty. They filed a false case, and today it has been proven,” Kejriwal said, fighting back tears.
The Special Court ruled that the CBI failed to establish a prima facie case against any of the 23 accused. The judge observed that the agency had attempted to construct a conspiracy narrative based on conjecture rather than concrete evidence.
The court also criticised the investigative approach, particularly the reliance on approver statements. It noted that granting pardon to an accused and then using their testimony to fill investigative gaps would amount to a grave violation of constitutional principles.
Despite the legal relief, the political fallout had already been felt. In the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 of 70 seats, returning to power in the capital after nearly three decades. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia suffered electoral defeats, and Rekha Gupta took oath as Chief Minister.
With the court verdict now in their favour, the AAP leadership signalled a renewed push to rebuild political momentum, framing the judgment as vindication after nearly two years of legal and political turbulence.
