In a dramatic courtroom development that has sent ripples through national politics, a Special Court in Delhi on Friday discharged all 23 individuals named in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case linked to the now-withdrawn excise policy. Among those cleared are former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

The order was delivered by Special Judge Jitender Singh at the Rouse Avenue Court, who ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish even a basic case for framing charges. The court observed that the alleged conspiracy theory presented by the CBI lacked solid proof and appeared to rely more on assumptions than verifiable facts.

According to the judge, the investigation did not demonstrate any overarching criminal design behind the formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22. The court stated that the accusations could not pass the legal threshold required to proceed to trial, effectively ending the matter at the trial court level.

In sharp remarks, the court questioned the investigative methods used in the case. It criticised the agency’s dependence on statements from an approver, noting that granting pardon to an accused and then using his testimony to fill investigative gaps raised serious legal concerns. The judge warned that such practices, if allowed, could undermine constitutional safeguards.

The court also made a significant observation regarding the naming of a public servant, Kuldeep Singh, as the primary accused. It indicated that a recommendation for departmental action against concerned CBI officials may follow over the handling of this aspect of the case.

The case originated in August 2022 after Delhi Lieutenant Governor V. K. Saxena filed a complaint alleging irregularities in the excise policy introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party government. The CBI had claimed that certain provisions in the policy were structured to benefit select private players, leading to alleged kickbacks and financial losses to the government.