(Image source from: ANI)
Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, cleared of allegations in the Liquor Policy case, challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP to conduct elections in Delhi to see the outcome. "I will step away from politics if the BJP secures more than 10 seats," Kejriwal stated at a press conference soon after he was found not guilty. On Friday, Arvind Kejriwal, the national leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were released from charges in the Delhi excise policy case, with the Rouse Avenue court criticizing the CBI for failing to provide solid proof for its claims. The court determined that allegations of a broader conspiracy and criminal intentions were not convincing under judicial examination, leading to the release of all 23 individuals involved, including former BRS leader K Kavitha.
Pointing out that Delhi has faced difficulties since the BJP regained power last February, Kejriwal remarked, "Delhi has been devastated. The worst impact of PM Modi and Amit Shah's hunger for power has been endured by the three crore residents of Delhi. Go and ask the Delhi residents. I challenge Modi ji today. If you are brave enough, conduct elections in Delhi once more. If you win more than 10 seats, I will leave politics. The people of Delhi are tired of you." The BJP returned to power in Delhi last year, winning 48 out of 70 Assembly positions, while Kejriwal’s AAP, which previously held large majorities with 67 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020, saw its number drop to just 22 in 2025. The AAP leader emphasized that the case was the "largest political plot in independent India," allegedly created by the BJP to remove the Aam Aadmi Party from authority in Delhi.
In a straightforward criticism, Kejriwal stated that PM Modi and Amit Shah ought to concentrate on serving the country instead of "trying to tear down and defame" parties like the AAP. He also mentioned that no one should "manipulate the nation and the Constitution in this manner" for the sake of power. Kejriwal insisted that the case brought against them lacked validity and was fabricated from the start. "If it had any truth, the trial would have lasted fifteen or twenty years with many witnesses called and evidence shown. The court described it as a trivial case—so fake, so pointless, so incorrect. I’m not the one saying this; those are the court’s words," he explained. Directly accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating the plot to remove AAP from power in Delhi, Kejriwal called for an apology to the nation. "This whole scheme was devised by two individuals—Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, and they should both apologize to the entire nation today. They plotted together to eliminate the Aam Aadmi Party," he stated.
Arvind Kejriwal further pointed out that both the CBI and the ED had presented their charges regarding the situation. He clarified that the court was set to decide if the available evidence and witness accounts were enough to justify proceeding with a trial, noting that the trial itself had not yet begun. He said, "The court had to assess if there was enough information to prosecute. " Referring to the court’s detailed decision, he indicated that in the almost 600-page document, after reviewing everything, the court found "there was not even enough evidence, not even enough witness statements. " He reiterated the court’s statement that there was "not even a single piece of evidence to pursue this case," and argued that if the case had moved forward with prosecution, "it would have been impossible. " In the meantime, Kejriwal viewed the court's decision as a significant relief, expressing that justice had finally been served and truth won over lies. He also expressed gratitude to his legal team, including senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
The CBI and the ED claimed that the excise policy of Delhi for 2021–22, which was created under the AAP government, was intended to benefit certain private liquor companies. The agencies stated that a group known as the "South Group" paid approximately Rs 100 crore in bribes to party officials. The CBI alleged that retail profit margins were increased from 5% to 12% to support the supposed scheme. This case originated from a July 2022 report by the Chief Secretary of Delhi, which brought to light certain irregularities, leading Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to suggest a CBI investigation. Former Excise Minister Manish Sisodia was taken into custody in February 2023, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was detained in March 2024; both eventually received bail from the Supreme Court. This controversy became a key part of the BJP’s campaign and affected the AAP's reputation in the 2025 Delhi elections.
