A major political debate has erupted after a Delhi court — Rouse Avenue Court — discharged Arvind Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Delhi, and Manish Sisodia, former Deputy Chief Minister, along with K. Kavitha, a Telangana Member of Legislative Council, and 23 other accused in the Delhi Excise Policy case investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The court’s decision does not amount to an acquittal but means that the judge found no sufficient evidence at the stage of framing charges to proceed against them. This is legally distinct from an acquittal after a full trial, as discharge occurs before formal trial proceedings begin.
BJP Calls Verdict “Technical Relief”
Addressing reporters, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, speaking for the Bharatiya Janata Party, described the court’s ruling as a technical outcome based on evidence thresholds. He stressed that a lack of evidence at this stage does not necessarily imply the original allegations were unfounded.
“If there was absolutely no evidence, then how did the court allow charges to be framed earlier?” Trivedi asked, emphasizing that his party would undertake a detailed review of the judgment before releasing a comprehensive response.
He underscored that legal procedures were followed throughout the investigation and cautioned against reducing the matter to simplistic political narratives.
CBI May Examine Legal Remedies
Trivedi made clear that the matter still remains within the legal jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation. He noted that the agency may consider available legal remedies or examine procedural issues arising from the court’s order, such as handling of evidence during the probe.
“The agency will take appropriate action in accordance with the law,” he said, adding that any further steps would depend on a thorough assessment of the court’s reasoning.
Political Reactions And Alliance Reference
Beyond the legal discourse, Trivedi also took a measured political swipe at opponents. He questioned whether allies of the Aam Aadmi Party were publicly rejoicing or privately uneasy about the broader implications of the decision.
Pointing to past political realignments, he remarked that while his party has maintained consistency over decades, some others have quickly shifted alliances for perceived political gain.
AAP Welcomes Verdict
Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party welcomed the court’s order, saying it vindicated their stand that the allegations were unsubstantiated. They described the discharge as a reaffirmation of the legal principle that no person should face trial without credible evidence.
