Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court on February 27 discharged Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise Policy case. The court observed that the alleged central conspiratorial role could not be substantiated.
The court noted that the allegations failed judicial scrutiny and found no criminal intent on the part of Manish Sisodia. It further stated that the conspiracy theory cannot survive against one constitutional authority.
Expressing her joy at the verdict, Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Arvind posted, “In this world, no matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot rise above Shiva Shakti. Truth always prevails.”
The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2022, followed by multiple supplementary chargesheets. The agency has alleged that Rs 100 crore was paid by a south lobby to influence the now-scrapped excise policy in its favour. In total, 23 accused have been chargesheeted, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha, Kuldeep Singh, Narender Singh, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Mootha Goutam, Sameer Mahendru.
During arguments, the CBI maintained that the offence of criminal conspiracy must be viewed in its entirety and that the sufficiency of evidence should be tested during trial. Represented by Additional Solicitor General DP Singh and advocate Manu Mishra, the agency argued that there is adequate material to frame charges against all the accused. On the other hand, senior advocate N Hariharan, appeared for Kejriwal contended that there is no incriminating material linking his client to the alleged conspiracy. He argued that the fourth supplementary chargesheet naming Kejriwal merely repackages earlier allegations and that Kejriwal was performing his official duties as Chief Minister.
