Arvind Kejriwal Gets Clean Chit in Delhi Liquor Policy Case — Court Slams CBI for Zero Evidence
By Deepika Lama | America News World | February 27, 2026
After four long years, one of India’s most talked-about political cases is finally over — and the court has ruled in favor of the accused. On Friday, a Delhi special court gave a clean chit to Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 other people in the Delhi liquor policy case. The judge was direct and clear: the Central Bureau of Investigation had no solid proof. The entire case, the court said, was built on guesswork.
When the verdict was read out, Kejriwal could not hold back his tears. Standing next to Sisodia, who tried to comfort him, Kejriwal said the words that have become his political identity: “Kejriwal kattar imandar” — meaning, Kejriwal is deeply honest. His voice broke. The emotions were too strong for the 57-year-old to hide.
What Did the Court Say About the CBI?
Special Judge Jitendra Singh did not hold back while criticizing the CBI. He said the agency’s case did not even meet the very first, lowest level of proof needed to begin a trial. In simple words, the CBI did not have enough evidence to even start a proper case, let alone prove guilt.
The judge said the liquor policy was made after proper discussions with experts and followed all the right legal steps. There was nothing illegal about how it was created. With no admissible evidence to support the charges, the judge ruled the case was legally unsustainable and unfit to proceed any further.
What Was the Delhi Liquor Policy Case?
In 2021, the Kejriwal government introduced a new policy for selling alcohol in Delhi. The goal was to make the process more organized, bring in more money for the city, and improve the experience for buyers. Sisodia, who was Deputy Chief Minister at the time, was in charge of the excise department that handled the policy.
However, in 2022, Delhi’s Chief Secretary raised red flags. He said government officials had accepted bribes and given special favors to certain private companies. A group called the South Group was alleged to have paid large sums of money to AAP leaders in exchange for favorable treatment. The Lieutenant Governor then asked the CBI to investigate, and the policy was cancelled.
The Arrests That Damaged AAP
The case led to a string of arrests that shook the entire AAP party. Satyendar Jain was arrested first in May 2022. Sisodia followed in February 2023. Then came Kejriwal himself — arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2024, making him one of the very few sitting Chief Ministers in Indian history to be taken into custody. The CBI formally arrested him from jail in June 2024.
Kejriwal’s arrest was a turning point — and not a good one — for the AAP. The BJP demanded he resign immediately. Despite Atishi taking over as Chief Minister, the party’s reputation was badly damaged. When Delhi went to polls in early 2025, voters chose the BJP in a landslide, giving them 48 of 70 seats. Kejriwal lost his own New Delhi seat. Sisodia lost Jangpura. For a party that had dominated Delhi politics for a decade, it was a crushing blow.
Kejriwal Fights Back — Challenges Modi to Fresh Elections
Friday’s verdict gave Kejriwal a new platform. Hours after the emotional scenes at the courthouse, the AAP chief turned combative. He directly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of running a political conspiracy against him and his party. “This entire conspiracy has been hatched by two people,” he said, demanding a public apology from both leaders.
Then came the bold challenge. Kejriwal called on PM Modi to hold fresh Delhi assembly elections immediately. His bet is clear: if the BJP wins more than 10 seats, he will quit politics forever. It was a statement designed to grab headlines — and it did.
For now, the court has spoken clearly. There was no case. There was no crime proved. There was only, as the judge put it, conjecture and surmise. The CBI built a four-year case against some of India’s most high-profile politicians and walked away with nothing.
Whether this verdict fully restores Kejriwal’s political fortunes — or whether the damage from the arrests and the lost election is already too deep to undo — remains the biggest question hanging over Indian politics today.
Deepika Lama is a political correspondent for America News World, covering Indian politics, courts, and governance.
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