(Image source from: Indiatoday.in)

Former Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal and his ex-deputy Manish Sisodia were released on Friday in the case regarding Delhi's excise policy, as a Delhi court gave a strong criticism to the CBI and determined that the prosecution did not back up its claims with reliable evidence. The court stated that accusations of a larger scheme and criminal intent failed to hold up under legal examination, emphasizing that the evidence instead pointed to decisions made by the administration. Kejriwal reacted with strong feelings to the ruling, referring to the case as the “biggest political plot in independent India,” claiming that it was created by the BJP to remove the Aam Aadmi Party from power in Delhi. He also expressed that no one should “manipulate the country and the Constitution like this” just for power. The Delhi court highlighted the lack of evidence against Kejriwal, stating that serious claims must be backed by evidence, as assigning a key conspiratorial role cannot be maintained without proof. The court remarked that public trust in the office is harmed if it turns out that the prosecution’s claims lacked backing by evidence.

Regarding Sisodia’s discharge, the court declared that the prosecution's case did not hold up under legal scrutiny and found no evidence to suggest any criminal intention from Sisodia. It pointed out that when the documents were considered alongside the statements on record, they indicated administrative discussions instead of any misconduct. The court also stated that the process that led to the creation of the excise policy involved consultation at various levels, with documents showing institutional discussions. "The prosecution’s idea of a grand conspiracy did not hold weight and the story had conflicts within itself," the court explained. Additionally, a Delhi court questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) investigation in the Delhi Excise Policy case while discharging AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The court made strong comments against the CBI, doubting its investigation into this high-profile case, which has likely played a role in the AAP’s decline in the national capital.

The court raised questions about why some statements and opinions were missing from the investigation files, hinting at possible shortcomings in how the inquiry was carried out. It also wanted to understand how the CBI argued that the views of three legal experts on the excise policy backed its case, showing skepticism regarding the agency’s reading of the evidence. Moreover, the court voiced concerns about the prosecution using the term "South Group," implying that the phrase lacked clarity and appropriate evidence in the case records. Arvind Kejriwal responded to the court's ruling by asserting that “truth always wins,” and mentioned that if the BJP truly wanted to gain power, it should focus on winning the trust of the people instead of sending him to jail regarding the matter. While addressing the media, he became emotional and struggled to hold back tears.

“We always said that the truth wins. I am extremely grateful to the judge who brought us justice. The truth has triumphed,” Kejriwal expressed. He labeled the case as the “largest political conspiracy in independent India,” claiming it aimed to “destroy the Aam Aadmi Party by imprisoning its top five leaders. ” “The current Chief Minister was taken from his home and put in jail for six months. Our Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, was imprisoned for nearly two years. This was a totally false case. We faced slander. Television channels held round-the-clock debates. News reports depicted Kejriwal in a bad light. I want to tell the Prime Minister, for the sake of power, do not manipulate the nation and the Constitution like this,” an emotional Kejriwal stated. “Stop playing games. If you seek power, do meaningful work. The country has many issues. Address them before coming into power,” he added.