New Delhi, 27 February (H.S.):

In a stunning reprieve, a Rouse Avenue court acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in the CBI's excise policy corruption case, slamming the prosecution for failing to prove allegations against them and 21 others.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh ruled the chargesheet lacked substance, finding no evidence of criminal conspiracy or illicit gains; documents mismatched claims, prompting repeated judicial rebukes during hearings. Framing arguments were reserved on February 12, culminating in today's clean chit as no direct proof linked the leaders to graft.

Senior counsel N Hariharan for Kejriwal argued zero evidence of bribe demands—his name surfaced only in the fourth supplementary chargesheet, absent from prior filings amid routine policy duties.

The ED arrested Kejriwal on March 21, 2024, granting interim Supreme Court bail till June 1 (surrendered June 2), followed by CBI custody on June 26; SC later awarded regular CBI bail on September 13, 2024, after July 12 ED interim relief.

ED's sixth supplementary chargesheet (May 10, 2024) named BRS leader K Kavitha among others; court took cognisance May 29. SC granted Kavitha bail August 27 in both probes. CBI plans immediate appeal, terming the order a setback in the now-scrapped AAP policy saga.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar