New Delhi, Feb 27 (NationPress) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has approached the Delhi High Court to contest the Rouse Avenue Court's decision that discharged all 23 defendants, including AAP's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the 2022 Delhi excise policy controversy.

The central agency has submitted a criminal revision petition against the trial court’s comprehensive ruling, which declined to establish charges in the corruption case and determined that the prosecution did not present even a prima facie case that warranted a trial.

Earlier today, Special Judge (PC Act) Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court, in an extensive order of over 1,100 paragraphs, declared that the case presented by the CBI was “completely incapable of surviving judicial scrutiny” and was “entirely discredited”.

The court stated that after a thorough examination of the extensive records and testimonies of nearly 300 prosecution witnesses, no evidence surfaced to raise even a “serious suspicion” against the defendants.

The Special Judge remarked that forcing the accused to endure a comprehensive trial without legally admissible evidence would result in a “manifest miscarriage of justice” and an abuse of the judicial process.

This case is linked to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22 introduced by the then AAP-led city government, which was later annulled amidst allegations of corruption, kickbacks, and policy manipulation.

The CBI alleged that this policy was designed to favor specific private liquor entities, including the “South Group”, in return for purported upfront bribes that were allegedly channeled for electoral purposes.

The agency claimed that irregularities in the creation and execution of the policy led to undue advantages for licensees and financial losses to the public treasury.

However, the trial court dismissed the notion of an “overarching conspiracy”, asserting that the existing records demonstrated that the policy was the result of a consultative process involving stakeholder engagement, and adhered to the legally mandated procedures.

Following the discharge order, Kejriwal labeled the case as “false and fabricated” and reaffirmed his confidence in the judiciary, stating “Satyamev Jayate”.

Sisodia was seen comforting him as party supporters gathered outside the court premises.

Nonetheless, the CBI has insisted that numerous facets of the investigation were either overlooked or inadequately addressed by the trial court, and has sought a review of the findings before the Delhi High Court.