New Delhi, Feb 27: In a significant development in the Delhi excise policy probe, a special court on Friday discharged former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, declining to take cognisance of the CBI’s chargesheet.
The order also granted relief to 21 other accused persons in the matter linked to the now withdrawn excise policy of the erstwhile AAP government.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh flagged serious deficiencies in the investigation, observing that there was no substantive material against Kejriwal and no prima facie evidence implicating Sisodia. The court noted inconsistencies and unsubstantiated claims in the extensive chargesheet, stating that several allegations were not backed by documentary proof or witness testimony.
The judge remarked that the prosecution’s theory of conspiracy was undermined by internal contradictions in the case record. In Kejriwal’s instance, the court said the accusations lacked credible evidentiary support and were unsustainable in law.
As for Sisodia, the court found no direct link or recovery connecting him to the alleged wrongdoing. A detailed written order is awaited.