New Delhi, Feb 27 (NationPress) A city court has acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the much-publicized state excise policy case on Friday.

The ruling from Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court follows nearly two years of legal proceedings that have significantly impacted the political environment in the national capital.

This court decision has provoked strong reactions from political factions, with opposition parties accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deploying central agencies against them for partisan advantages.

The case, under scrutiny by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), centered on allegations of misconduct and corruption regarding the formulation of Delhi's liquor policy for 2021-22.

Prosecutors contended that the policy was crafted to favor certain private entities in return for illicit payments.

Kejriwal and Sisodia have repeatedly rejected these allegations, labeling them as attempts to discredit them politically.

The CBI has announced plans to appeal the trial court's ruling in the Delhi High Court, claiming that key elements of their investigation were not sufficiently addressed.

The trial court found no evidence indicating conspiracy or criminal intent, asserting that the modifications to the policy were part of legitimate governance decisions.

The acquittal is likely to have significant political ramifications.

Despite the AAP's electoral loss in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, this clean verdict could provide the party leverage in the forthcoming municipal and state elections.

Upon hearing the verdict, Kejriwal expressed his emotions publicly, stating, "Truth has triumphed. This victory is not just mine but belongs to the people of Delhi who stood by us."

Sunita Kejriwal, his wife, also shared her relief, saying, "They (BJP) caused us suffering; they wrongfully imprisoned Arvind ji and his colleagues. I always had faith that truth would prevail."

Sisodia echoed this sentiment, remarking that the ordeal was a testament to their resilience and trust in the judicial system.

Congress leader Pawan Khera raised concerns about the timing of legal actions, questioning whether these events coincided with upcoming elections, suggesting that people are keenly observing these trends.

Among those implicated in the case was K. Kavitha, leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.

K. Kavitha's brother, K.T. Rama Rao, took to social media to assert that the AAP government was unjustly targeted over the alleged liquor scam, claiming that all politically motivated cases against their leaders will ultimately be proven false.

Meanwhile, BJP's Delhi President Virendra Sachdeva criticized the AAP supporters celebrating the ruling, alleging that Kejriwal and Sisodia tampered with evidence.

He emphasized that the court's ruling was based on a technicality of "lack of evidence" and did not equate to a "clean chit" for Kejriwal.

"If the excise policy was legitimate, why was it revoked immediately after the investigation commenced? What motivated the increase in commission for contractors? Why was a promotional scheme introduced?" questioned Sachdeva.

He further added that the public verdict was delivered during the state Assembly elections, indicating a consensus that Kejriwal is corrupt.

The case pertains to the Delhi Excise Policy established by Kejriwal's administration in November 2021, aimed at restructuring liquor regulations in the capital.

However, controversy ensued shortly after the policy's implementation, as the BJP accused AAP of colluding with the liquor mafia for financial gain.

The policy was eventually retracted in 2022.

A complaint was filed following a report from the then Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena in July 2022, which highlighted numerous procedural flaws in the policy's development.