Arvind Kejriwal 2026: Acquitted in Liquor Policy Case, Challenges PM Modi After "Kattar Imaandar" Verdict

Arvind Kejriwal, the former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor, achieved a monumental legal victory on February 27, 2026. A Delhi court discharged him and 22 others in the high-profile Delhi excise policy corruption case, citing a complete lack of evidence and criticizing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for filing a chargesheet with "misleading averments" and significant gaps .

The 57-year-old leader, who spent months in jail following his March 2024 arrest, broke down outside the Rouse Avenue Court as he addressed reporters, declaring, "Truth has won" . The verdict marks a dramatic turning point in a two-year legal ordeal that cost him the chief ministership and led to AAP's defeat in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections .

🚨 Latest Update: Court Discharges Kejriwal in Excise Policy Case (February 27, 2026)

The Verdict

Special Judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court refused to take cognisance of the CBI's chargesheet, ruling that there was "no material to proceed against the accused" . The court observed that the alleged central conspiratorial role could not be substantiated by evidence and found no criminal intent on the part of Manish Sisodia or other accused individuals .

Key observations from the judgment:

The chargesheet contained "several lacunae not supported by evidence"
The threshold of prima facie suspicion was far less than the "grave suspicion" mandated by criminal jurisprudence
The court ordered a departmental inquiry against the investigating officer

Kejriwal's Emotional Response

Visibly emotional after the verdict, Kejriwal told reporters outside court:

"For the past few years, the way BJP has been accusing us in the Delhi excise policy case, today the court has rejected all the allegations levelled against us. We have always said that the truth wins... PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah conspired against AAP and arrested the party's five biggest leaders. A sitting CM was arrested. We were accused and called corrupt in every channel. Kejriwal is not corrupt. I have only earned honesty. The court has said today that Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and AAP are honest."

His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, thanked the court and the judge for their "bravery," adding, "Arvind Kejriwal led his entire life with honesty and for the progress of the country. But these people, in their greed for power, levelled fake charges and jailed his aides. But I had faith in God" .

The Dare: Fresh Polls in Delhi

In a press conference following the verdict, Kejriwal challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold fresh elections in Delhi, offering to quit politics if the BJP wins more than 10 seats .

"The BJP has thrown Delhi into chaos with problems like pollution, a polluted Yamuna, and damaged roads. Many people say that after losing elections in Delhi, Kejriwal has gone missing. I am not a politician; politicians have thick skin. I am an honest man. That is why I decided to stay calm and quiet and only talk when I am proven innocent."

📜 The Liquor Policy Case: A Timeline

The Delhi excise policy case has been one of India's most politically charged legal battles, spanning nearly four years.

Date	Event
November 2021	Kejriwal government introduces new excise policy, withdrawing government from retail liquor sale and allowing private licensees
July 2022	Delhi's Chief Secretary flags "gross violations"; CBI registers FIR alleging manipulation to favor certain liquor dealers
February 26, 2023	Manish Sisodia arrested; spends around 530 days in jail
March 21, 2024	Arvind Kejriwal becomes first sitting Delhi CM to be arrested
September 13, 2024	Supreme Court grants bail, ruling "prolonged incarceration amounts to unjust deprivation of liberty"
September 2024	Kejriwal resigns as CM, vowing to return only when proven innocent
February 2025	AAP loses Delhi Assembly elections; BJP wins 48 of 70 seats
August 2025	Government introduces bill allowing removal of politicians arrested for 30 days
February 27, 2026	Delhi court discharges Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others

🏛️ What the Court Said

"No Overarching Conspiracy or Criminal Intent"

The court was scathing in its assessment of the CBI's case:

"There was no overarching conspiracy or criminal intent in the policy. The allegation failed judicial scrutiny."

The judge specifically noted that the CBI had tried to build a "case" on the back of claims by other suspects rather than on substantive evidence .

Who Was Discharged?

A total of 23 people were discharged, including :

Arvind Kejriwal – Former Delhi CM, AAP convenor
Manish Sisodia – Former Deputy CM of Delhi
K. Kavitha – BRS leader, daughter of former Telangana CM KCR
Vijay Nair, Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh – AAP leaders
Abhishek Boinpally, Arun Pillai, Sameer Mahendru – Others accused in the case

CBI's Response

The CBI immediately announced it would appeal the verdict, stating:

"Several aspects of the investigation have either been ignored or not considered adequately."

🗳️ Political Fallout: Opposition Unites Against BJP

The verdict triggered a wave of reactions from opposition parties across India, who accused the BJP of misusing central investigative agencies .

What Opposition Leaders Said

Leader	Party	Reaction
MK Stalin	DMK (Tamil Nadu CM)	"The Union BJP government must not mortgage the integrity of investigating agencies for short term politics. Have some shame."
Pawan Khera	Congress	"Is it a coincidence that Chidambaram gets prosecution sanction due to Tamil Nadu elections? Is it a coincidence that Kejriwal gets a clean chit because of Punjab and Gujarat elections?"
Saket Gokhale	Trinamool (MP)	"A fake fabricated case was filed by the BJP to defame Opposition leaders. Yet again, BJP's shameless tactic of using CBI and ED as their political tools stands exposed."
Mahua Moitra	Trinamool (MP)	"BJP learn your lesson while there is still time. All your dirty tricks, your ED, your CBI- all these puppets will die in the face of truth."
Priyanka Chaturvedi	Shiv Sena (UBT)	"They fought the lies, the propaganda, the toxic political agenda and ensured truth & justice prevailed."

🔮 What's Next for Arvind Kejriwal in 2026?

Political Revival

The court order has restored Kejriwal's core political asset: the image of "kattar imaandar" (fiercely honest) politics on which the AAP was built . Political analysts suggest the verdict will:

Re-energize AAP's Delhi cadre – After the demoralizing 2025 defeat, party workers now have a powerful narrative of vindication
Boost Punjab campaign – With Punjab Assembly elections due in 2027, Kejriwal can now campaign freely without the corruption albatross
Strengthen opposition unity – The verdict provides fresh ammunition against the BJP's alleged misuse of central agencies

Legal Challenges Remain

While the CBI case is over, Kejriwal was also facing Enforcement Directorate cases related to the same policy. He has announced he will "file an application to put an end to the ED case," arguing, "When you do not have evidence in the lower court, what evidence will you show in the high court and SC?"

In January 2026, a Delhi court had already acquitted Kejriwal in two ED cases related to skipping summons .

The Big Question: Will He Return as CM?

Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister in September 2024 with a promise to return only when proven innocent. With that condition now satisfied, speculation is rife about whether he will reclaim the top post. However, with the BJP comfortably in power in Delhi following the 2025 elections, any immediate return is unlikely unless fresh elections are called—a scenario Kejriwal has explicitly challenged Modi to consider .

📊 Quick Facts: Arvind Kejriwal (2026)

Detail	Information
Full Name	Arvind Kejriwal
Age	57 years (as of 2026)
Position	AAP National Convenor, Former Delhi CM
Arrest Date	March 21, 2024
Time in Jail	~6 months (until September 2024 bail)
Verdict Date	February 27, 2026
Court	Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi
Judge	Special Judge Jitendra Singh
Co-accused Discharged	22 others, including Manish Sisodia, K Kavitha
Political Challenge	Dares PM Modi to hold fresh Delhi polls; will quit if BJP wins >10 seats

🏆 Conclusion: Redemption After Ordeal

Arvind Kejriwal's 2026 legal victory is more than just a court acquittal—it is the restoration of a political identity. The man who built the Aam Aadmi Party on the promise of honest politics spent two years fighting allegations that threatened to destroy that very foundation.

Outside the courthouse, as he broke down while asserting his honesty, Kejriwal encapsulated the emotional weight of the moment. His wife Sunita's words perhaps best captured the family's journey: "I had faith in God" .

Whether this verdict translates into political resurrection or remains a moral victory will depend on the battles ahead—in Punjab, in Delhi, and in the court of public opinion. For now, however, Arvind Kejriwal has reclaimed the one thing no political opponent can give or take away: his integrity.