Kejriwal Breaks Down After Court Discharge in Excise Policy Case, Calls Verdict a Victory of Truth

New Delhi, Feb 2026 : A visibly emotional Arvind Kejriwal, national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi Chief Minister, broke down before the media on Thursday after the Rouse Avenue Court discharged him in the Delhi excise policy case. Speaking publicly for the first time following the verdict, Kejriwal wept uncontrollably, describing the moment as both painful and vindicating after a prolonged legal and political battle.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stood beside him, hugging Kejriwal, wiping away his tears and offering support as party leaders and supporters gathered around. The emotional scenes unfolded outside the court complex soon after the ruling, marking a dramatic end to a case that had dominated political discourse for nearly three years.

Addressing reporters, Kejriwal said the repeated branding of the case as a “Delhi excise scam” had deeply affected him and his family. “They kept repeating these allegations again and again. Today, the court has dismissed the charges and discharged all the accused. We always maintained that truth would prevail and that we have complete faith in the Indian judicial system,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.

Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the judiciary, adding, “I want to thank the judges for delivering this verdict. I have always believed that God stands with those who speak the truth.” He said the court’s decision reaffirmed his faith in constitutional institutions, despite what he described as sustained political pressure.

The AAP leader went on to allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were behind what he termed a “massive political conspiracy” aimed at weakening the Aam Aadmi Party. “It was a completely fabricated case. Night after night, television debates portrayed me as corrupt. Today’s verdict exposes that narrative,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Rouse Avenue Court refused to frame charges against Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused in the corruption case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. Allowing the discharge pleas, the court held that the investigation had failed to produce sufficient material to proceed against the accused and did not disclose the commission of any criminal offence, including criminal conspiracy.

The case pertained to the Delhi government’s 2021–22 excise policy, which was later withdrawn following allegations of irregularities in licensing procedures and pricing mechanisms. Central investigative agencies had claimed that senior AAP leaders received kickbacks from a cartel referred to as the “South Group” in return for policy concessions benefiting select liquor licensees. It was also alleged that flawed implementation of the policy led to substantial losses to the public exchequer.

Both Kejriwal and Sisodia were arrested during the course of the investigation and spent months in custody before securing relief from the Supreme Court of India in 2024. Kejriwal was granted bail in September 2024 in the CBI corruption case, with the apex court directing him to cooperate with the trial and refrain from commenting publicly on the merits of the case. He was also given interim relief in the related money laundering matter, with the court underscoring the importance of personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Sisodia, meanwhile, was granted bail in August 2024 after spending nearly 17 months in jail. The Supreme Court observed that the trial, involving hundreds of witnesses and voluminous documents, was unlikely to conclude soon and that prolonged incarceration would violate the right to a speedy trial.

Thursday’s discharge order marks a major legal relief for the AAP leadership, potentially reshaping the political narrative around the excise policy controversy and providing the party with fresh momentum ahead of future electoral battles.