Indian court clears former Delhi chief minister of corruption charges

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024, weeks before India's general election, and spent months in jail.

A Delhi court has cleared former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in a case of alleged corruption in making a new policy to sell liquor in the national capital. The court stated there was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy.

After being discharged in the Delhi excise policy case due to lack of evidence, Arvind Kejriwal broke down before cameras as supporters gathered around him, urging him to stay strong.

After the court's decision, Kejriwal was seen breaking down while speaking to reporters, asserting his innocence and calling the excise case the 'biggest political conspiracy' in the history of Independent India.

The judge said he was ordering departmental action against the CBI officer handling the case to ensure accountability and protect the credibility of the investigative system.

The CBI is in the process of studying the order and is likely to approach the higher appellate court at the earliest after the acquittal of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case.