India court acquits opposition leader and Modi critic Arvind Kejriwal in graft case
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Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal attend a rally on Jan 22.
ST PHOTO: NIRMALA GANAPATHY
NEW DELHI – An Indian court acquitted the former chief minister of the capital Delhi on Feb 27 in a long-running corruption probe the man had called a “political conspiracy” by the ruling party.
Opposition Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal had served as the capital’s chief minister before losing elections in 2025 as the judicial proceedings against him were under way.
He was jailed for several months in 2024 after being arrested on accusations that his administration had received kickbacks from the allocation of liquor licences.
The 57-year-old politician wept as he left the court in New Delhi.
The trial court cleared him, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others of all charges, saying mere approval of policy decisions “without evidence of dishonest intention” did not attract criminal liability.
Mr Kejriwal demanded an apology from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of being “the main conspirators” who wanted to destroy his party.
“This entire thing was orchestrated by two people – Narendra Modi and Amit Shah – and they should apologise,” he said at a news conference.
“They hatched this conspiracy to destroy the Aam Aadmi Party. They knew they would not be able to defeat us, so they plotted this conspiracy.”
Crowds of supporters gathered around Mr Kejriwal’s vehicle, chanting slogans, waving party flags and showering rose petals.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, which led the case, has appealed against the ruling, according to local media reports.
Mr Kejriwal, a key Modi opponent, began his career as a tax collector but quit his civil service job to become an anti-corruption crusader, bringing him national fame. Several of Mr Modi’s opponents have faced criminal investigation or trial in recent years, including two state chief ministers.
In August 2025, the government introduced a Bill to remove politicians if they are arrested and detained for 30 days, which opponents called a “chilling” bid to crush constitutional safeguards. AFP
