New Delhi, Feb 28 (NationPress) Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge expressed strong disapproval regarding the perceived manipulation of central agencies in light of the Delhi Court’s decision to discharge former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from the Excise Policy case. He claimed that institutions like the CBI, Income Tax (IT) Department, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been exploited for the BJP's political advantage.

During a press conference, Kharge remarked, “The CBI, IT, and ED are being used as puppets to secure political benefits for the BJP. These agencies have been turned into weapons. Even the Supreme Court has commented on this matter. Where is the chargesheet against Arvind Kejriwal or Manish Sisodia? If you examine the data on IT and ED raids, nearly 98 percent of these cases result in no convictions. Only about 3 to 4 percent lead to any tangible results. These organizations are solely being utilized for political ends.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also weighed in on this issue.

In a statement to IANS, he mentioned, “With elections nearing in Gujarat and Punjab, it is crucial that they are conducted in a free and fair manner. The Bharatiya Janata Party manipulates its resources and personnel to dictate when, where, and against whom to take action. Pawan has already issued a detailed statement on this issue, which I fully support.”

Meanwhile, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called for composure.

He stated, “Arvind Kejriwal has been the Chief Minister of Delhi. The lower court has discharged him and has made judicial observations regarding the case. According to media sources, the CBI intends to appeal to a higher court. Thus, there is no need for excessive excitement or concern at this time. This is merely part of the judicial process.”

Earlier on Friday, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were acquitted in the prominent Delhi liquor excise policy case.

The Rouse Avenue Court noted that there was a lack of evidence against the two leaders, providing them with a significant relief.

The court highlighted the necessity of a fair investigation to guarantee a just trial, pointing out that the prosecution had failed to support its claims.

Regarding Sisodia, the court asserted that the accusations made by the CBI lacked substance, no criminal conspiracy was proven, and the prosecution could not establish its case.

This ruling followed the court's reservation of its verdict on February 12, after extensive arguments from both the CBI and the defense.

In addition to Kejriwal and Sisodia, 21 other individuals faced accusations in the case. At the time of the incident, Kejriwal was the serving Chief Minister of Delhi and Sisodia was his deputy.

The CBI initiated its first chargesheet in 2022 and subsequently filed several supplementary chargesheets. The agency alleged that around Rs 100 crore was paid by a “south lobby” to sway the now-defunct excise policy in its favor.