New Delhi, India — In a significant development, a Delhi court on Friday declined to proceed with the trial of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged liquor policy corruption case, delivering a major relief to the senior opposition leader.
Kejriwal, national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested in March 2024 after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) accused his government of irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s 2022 excise policy. The agency alleged that the policy granted undue benefits to private liquor retailers.
After spending six months in custody, Kejriwal was granted bail and later stepped down as chief minister amid mounting political pressure.
The Rouse Avenue District Court’s decision not to proceed with the trial also cleared 22 other accused individuals, including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, according to defense lawyers. The detailed court order is awaited.
Addressing reporters outside the court, Kejriwal said the ruling reaffirmed his party’s long-standing claim of innocence. He stated that the case was false and politically motivated.
The CBI said it plans to challenge the ruling, arguing that several aspects of the investigation were not adequately considered. The Enforcement Directorate, which is conducting a parallel probe under money laundering provisions, is also continuing its examination of the case.
The controversy surrounding the liquor policy had significant political consequences. In the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP lost power in the national capital territory, marking the first time in 27 years that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party formed the government in Delhi.
Kejriwal, 58, had previously led AAP to three consecutive electoral victories in the capital. The court’s decision marks a key moment in a case that has had major political implications in Delhi over the past two years.
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