Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia have received major relief from the Rouse Avenue Court. On February 27, 2026, the court officially discharged and acquitted them in the CBI excise policy case. This verdict comes nearly two years after the central agencies began their investigation into the alleged liquor scam. The judge ruled that the accusations against the AAP leaders did not have enough substance to proceed with a trial.
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Why did the court dismiss the charges?
Special Judge Jitendra Singh refused to accept the chargesheet filed by the CBI. The court noted that the allegations were based more on guesswork than on concrete evidence. According to the verdict, the prosecution failed to prove any criminal conspiracy or criminal intent when the excise policy was formulated.
The judge also pointed out a significant gap in the investigation. The agency relied heavily on statements given by approvers (people who turned witnesses) but did not provide enough independent evidence to support those claims. Due to this lack of proof, the court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 other accused persons.
Reaction of Kejriwal and future legal steps
The atmosphere outside the court became emotional after the verdict was announced. Arvind Kejriwal broke down in tears while addressing the media. He stated that the court’s decision proved his honesty to the country. AAP leaders celebrated the order as a victory of truth against what they called a political conspiracy.
While the discharge is a big boost for the Aam Aadmi Party, the legal battle might not be fully over yet. Reports indicate that the CBI is likely to challenge this discharge order in the Delhi High Court soon. Legal experts say that being discharged at this stage means the evidence was considered too weak to even start a full trial.
