Union Minister of State, Harsh Malhotra, responded to a Delhi court’s decision to discharge AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Excise Policy case. Malhotra noted that the lower court’s opinion highlighted the ongoing judicial process and the absence of witnesses in the case. He emphasized that the legal discharge does not equate to public exoneration.
Malhotra raised concerns about tampering with crucial evidence, mentioning the destruction of phones and deactivation of SIM cards related to the alleged transactions. Despite the court ruling, he pointed out that public sentiment towards the accused remains unchanged, citing voter dissatisfaction in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections regarding the excise policy issue.
Looking ahead, Malhotra highlighted that the judicial process is still ongoing and questioned the withdrawal of the excise policy by the accused if they believed it was justified. He underscored that the electorate had already sent a political message through the elections, indicating that societal judgment has been passed while legal proceedings continue.
The court’s decision to discharge all accused in the CBI case was based on the prosecution’s failure to present substantial evidence. The case involved allegations of a significant sum being paid to influence the excise policy, which was subsequently revoked following investigative orders.
