A court in India has closed a corruption case against former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in March 2024. The Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader was accused in connection with a liquor policy that authorities alleged favored private retailers.
The court cleared Kejriwal and 23 others, stating there was "no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the excise policy." The judge also criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its investigation and recommended an inquiry against its officials, though the CBI intends to appeal the verdict.
Kejriwal, along with former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh, spent significant time in jail. Kejriwal had previously accused the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of targeting opposition leaders, allegations the BJP denied.
The court criticized the CBI for "trying to construct a narrative of conspiracy on the basis of mere conjecture" and for relying on statements from approvers. The liquor policy, introduced in 2021 by the Kejriwal government, was withdrawn months later after accusations of benefiting private liquor barons.