CBI Moves Delhi High Court Against Discharge of Kejriwal, Sisodia in Excise Policy Case

New Delhi, Feb 2026 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the recent order of the Rouse Avenue Court that discharged all 23 accused, including AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the 2022 Delhi excise policy case.

The central agency has filed a criminal revision petition contesting the trial court’s extensive ruling, which refused to frame charges in the corruption case and held that the prosecution had failed to establish even a prima facie case warranting a full trial. The CBI has argued that several crucial aspects of the investigation were either overlooked or inadequately examined by the trial court and require reconsideration by the High Court.

Earlier on Friday, the Rouse Avenue Court delivered a detailed order running into more than 1,100 paragraphs. Special Judge (PC Act) Jitendra Singh concluded that the prosecution’s case was “wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny” and stood “discredited in its entirety.” The court observed that despite a prolonged investigation and the examination of a vast body of material, the CBI failed to present legally admissible evidence sufficient to raise even a “grave suspicion” against the accused.

The court noted that nearly 300 prosecution witnesses were cited and a voluminous record was placed on file, yet nothing emerged to substantiate allegations of criminal conspiracy or corruption. It further held that compelling the accused to undergo a full-fledged criminal trial in the absence of credible material would amount to a “manifest miscarriage of justice” and an abuse of the criminal justice process.

The case relates to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22, introduced by the then AAP-led Delhi government and later scrapped following allegations of corruption, kickbacks and manipulation in its formulation and execution. The CBI had alleged that the policy was designed to favour select private liquor vendors, including a group referred to as the “South Group,” in exchange for alleged bribes that were purportedly used for electoral purposes.

According to the agency, irregularities in licensing norms and policy implementation resulted in undue benefits to certain entities and caused financial losses to the public exchequer. However, the trial court rejected the CBI’s theory of an overarching conspiracy, observing that the contemporaneous official record indicated that the policy was framed through a consultative and deliberative process. The court held that the policy-making exercise involved stakeholder consultations and followed procedures prescribed under law, weakening the prosecution’s claims of mala fide intent.

Following the discharge order, Kejriwal termed the case “false and fabricated” and reiterated his faith in the judiciary, invoking the phrase “Satyamev Jayate.” Manish Sisodia was seen standing by his side and consoling him as AAP supporters gathered outside the court premises, celebrating the verdict as a major vindication of the party’s stand.

The CBI, however, has maintained that the trial court erred in its appreciation of evidence and legal principles. By moving the Delhi High Court, the agency has sought a review and reversal of the discharge order, signalling that the legal battle in the high-profile excise policy case is far from over. The High Court is expected to examine whether the trial court’s findings warrant interference under its revisional jurisdiction.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)