In a significant development in the 2022 Delhi excise policy case, a special court at Rouse Avenue on Friday acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, along with 21 other accused.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh, delivering the verdict in the case probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), held that the prosecution failed to substantiate allegations of a larger criminal conspiracy. The court observed that the theory of a central conspiratorial role did not stand up to judicial scrutiny and found no evidence of criminal intent on the part of Sisodia. It further remarked that the conspiracy narrative could not be sustained against a constitutional authority in the absence of concrete proof.

The order came after the court had reserved judgment on February 12, following extensive arguments from the CBI and the defence counsel representing Kejriwal, Sisodia, and the other accused.

Emotional Reaction and Political Response

Shortly after the ruling, Kejriwal appeared visibly emotional. Addressing supporters, he asserted that the verdict had vindicated him and his former deputy. “I am not corrupt. The court has declared that both Manish Sisodia and I are honest,” he said, describing the judgment as a triumph of truth.

Sunita Kejriwal, the former chief minister’s wife, also reacted to the development in a message posted on social media platform X, stating that no individual, regardless of power, can rise above divine justice and that truth ultimately prevails.

At the time the case was initiated, Kejriwal was serving as the Chief Minister of Delhi, while Sisodia held the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

CBI to File Appeal

Despite the acquittal, the legal battle appears far from over. Sources indicated that the CBI intends to challenge the trial court’s decision and is expected to move a higher appellate court soon. The agency had earlier signalled its position that sufficient material exists to frame charges and proceed to trial.

The CBI had filed its first chargesheet in 2022, followed by multiple supplementary chargesheets. The agency alleged that a “south lobby” had paid ₹100 crore to influence the formulation and implementation of the now-withdrawn excise policy in its favour.

23 Accused Cleared

In total, 23 individuals were named in the case. Apart from Kejriwal and Sisodia, those acquitted include K Kavitha, Kuldeep Singh, Narender Singh, Vijay Nair, Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Ramchandra Pillai, Mootha Goutam, Sameer Mahendru, Amandeep Singh Dhall, Arjun Pandey, Butchibabu Gornatla, Rakesh Joshi, Damodar Prasad Sharma, Prince Kumar, Chanpreet Singh Rayat, Arvind Kumar Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Amit Arora, Vinod Chauhan, Ashish Mathur, and P Sarath Chandra Reddy.

Arguments in Court

During the proceedings, the CBI contended that the alleged criminal conspiracy should be assessed as a whole and that the adequacy of evidence ought to be evaluated during trial rather than at the stage of framing charges. Represented by Additional Solicitor General D.P. Singh and advocate Manu Mishra, the agency argued that the materials collected during investigation were sufficient to proceed against all accused persons.

In contrast, senior advocate N. Hariharan, appearing for Kejriwal, argued that there was no incriminating evidence directly linking his client to the alleged conspiracy. He pointed out that Kejriwal’s name did not appear in the original chargesheet or in the first three supplementary chargesheets, and was introduced only in the fourth supplementary chargesheet.

Hariharan further submitted that the allegations against Kejriwal were a reiteration of earlier claims without fresh material. He maintained that the former chief minister had merely discharged his official duties. The defence also questioned the legitimacy of further investigation and raised concerns about the evidentiary reliability of certain statements, including that of approver Raghav Magunta.

With the CBI preparing to appeal, the high-profile case is likely to continue in higher courts, keeping the political and legal spotlight firmly on the Delhi excise policy controversy.

Case Details

Case Title: CBI Vs. Kuldeep Singh And Others

Case No.: CBI Case No. 56/2022

Date: 27/02/2026

Read More: GST Dept. Conducts Inspection at Lupin’s Maharashtra Office