Delhi Excise Case: CBI Moves High Court Challenging Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail, Says Key Evidence Overlooked
The CBI has challenged the special court’s acquittal of Arvind Kejriwal and others in the Delhi excise policy case before the Delhi High Court. The agency described the court’s order as “illegal and distorted,” claiming it ignored key prosecution evidence and was based on selective interpretation.
The CBI has challenged the special court’s acquittal of Delhi’s former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the Delhi excise policy case before the Delhi High Court. In its petition, the agency claimed that the court’s order was “based on a selective interpretation of the prosecution’s case, ignoring material evidence indicating the involvement of the accused,” and described the ruling as “manifestly illegal.”
In its 974-page petition submitted to the High Court, the CBI alleged that the special judge conducted a “summary hearing,” addressing various aspects of the alleged conspiracy in isolation rather than evaluating the accused’s actions comprehensively. The agency termed the verdict “distorted,” pointing to “clear errors” and “misinterpretation of facts,” and argued that it violated Supreme Court guidelines regarding the evaluation of evidence at the stage of framing charges.
Last Friday, the special court had acquitted Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others, including K. Kavita, the chairperson of Telangana Jagruti, refusing to take cognizance of the CBI’s chargesheet in the excise policy case. Special Judge Jitendra Singh had criticized the CBI for investigation lapses, stating that there was no substantial evidence against Kejriwal and that a prima facie case could not be made against Sisodia and the other accused.
Within hours of the acquittal, the CBI filed an immediate revision petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the order. The hearing is scheduled for March 9. In its petition, the agency stated: “The order under challenge is clearly illegal, distorted, and replete with errors. Not only has the facts of the case been misinterpreted, but the failure of the learned special judge has also led to adverse comments against the investigation agency and the investigating officers, which are baseless and unreasonable.”
Explanation
This news highlights a major legal development in the Delhi excise policy case. A special court had acquitted Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others, citing insufficient evidence and criticizing the CBI for investigative lapses. However, the CBI strongly disagrees, arguing that the court ignored crucial evidence, misinterpreted facts, and failed to assess the case comprehensively. By approaching the Delhi High Court, the CBI is seeking a judicial review of the acquittal. The case will be heard on March 9, and the outcome could have significant implications for both political accountability and ongoing investigative procedures in high-profile cases in Delhi.