New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday strongly opposed a trial court’s decision to discharge Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case, telling the Delhi High Court that the ruling was “perverse” and ignored key evidence gathered during the investigation.
Appearing for the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the case involves serious allegations of corruption and should not have been dismissed without a full trial. He maintained that the matter relates to what the agency considers one of the most significant corruption cases connected to the now-scrapped excise policy.
Mehta told the court that the trial court granted relief to Kejriwal, Sisodia and several others prematurely, without examining the evidence in a detailed trial process. According to him, the investigating agency had compiled extensive material pointing to an alleged conspiracy linked to the formulation and implementation of the liquor policy.
The Solicitor General also stated that investigators had gathered substantial proof suggesting irregularities in the policy framework, including claims that the rules were manipulated in exchange for bribes. He added that witness testimonies recorded during the probe supported the agency’s version of events.
The CBI further argued that the available evidence warranted judicial scrutiny through a proper trial rather than an early discharge order. The agency has urged the High Court to review the lower court’s decision and allow the case to proceed.
The excise policy case has been under intense public and political scrutiny, with investigators examining alleged financial irregularities and decision-making processes related to the liquor policy introduced by the Delhi government. The High Court is expected to continue hearing arguments from both sides before deciding on the CBI’s challenge to the trial court’s order.
