Delhi liquor policy case: Arvind Kejriwal sheds tears as court shreds CBI

The four-year-long Delhi liquor policy case, which saw AAP's top leaders, including chief Arvind Kejriwal, arrested, potentially cost them the assembly polls last year. Now, a Delhi court has given Kejriwal, his ex-deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others a clean chit, saying the CBI case lacks foundation and is based almost entirely on conjecture.

The face of the party that ruled Delhi for a decade was tearful on Friday after a court gave him a clean chit in the liquor policy case. Kejriwal kattar imandar (Kejriwal is staunchly honest) – former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, with co-accused and his ex-deputy Manish Sisodia consoling him. The AAP chief struggled to find words and his voice cracked as overwhelming emotions took over the 57-year-old. Hours later, Kejriwal showed his fierce side as he accused PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of conspiring to end the AAP. "This entire conspiracy has been hatched by two people," the former Delhi CM said, demanding they apologise to the country for their actions.

Then, a challenge followed. Arvind Kejriwal challenged PM Modi to conduct elections in the national capital again. His bet? The BJP will fail to win more than 10 seats, else the AAP chief will leave politics.

Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others were cleared of all charges in the liquor policy case. Special judge Jitendra Singh reprimanded the CBI for basing the case entirely on conjecture and surmise, "devoid of any admissible evidence".

Today's court ruling, while has stirred jubilant celebrations among AAP supporters, it appears to be have also set the tone for the political flashpoint between them and the ruling BJP to deepen.

In 2021, the then Kejriwal-headed AAP government introduced a Delhi excise policy aimed at reforming liquor sales in the capital by privatising the trade, increasing state revenue, and bettering consumer experience. Then, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was tasked in overseeing the excise department.

In July 2022, the Delhi Chief Secretary flagged irregularities in the policy in a report. It alleged that AAP government officials accepted bribes and waived off or slashed licence fees to favour certain private firms and stakeholders. There were also allegations of the then Delhi government creating several new licences to favour incoming producers and sales firms. It was alleged that a liquor cartel called 'South Group' had paid a large chunk of money to the AAP and its leaders to ensure the policy was favourable to the members.