On Friday, February 27, 2026, a Delhi court discharged former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and 21 other accused in the corruption case related to the 2022 excise policy.
The Court’s Ruling:
Special Judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court refused to take cognisance of the CBI’s chargesheet, citing a lack of evidence to substantiate the alleged central conspiracy.
Key observations from the court included:
- Insufficient Evidence: The court noted that investigators failed to provide proof of a criminal offence or criminal intent, particularly regarding Manish Sisodia.
- Criticism of CBI: The judge “rapped” the federal agency for lapses in the investigation, stating the voluminous chargesheet suffered from “internal contradictions” and was not supported by cogent evidence or witness statements.
- Nature of Discharge: Unlike bail, this discharge effectively halts the CBI’s corruption trial against the AAP leaders because the court found no prima facie material to even proceed with the trial.
Case Background:
The case originated from allegations that the AAP government’s 2021–22 excise policy favored a “South Group” cartel in exchange for ₹100 crore in kickbacks. Both Kejriwal and Sisodia had previously spent months in custody before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2024.