Delhi Opposition Leader Cleared of Corruption Charges by Indian Court

An Indian court has dismissed corruption charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested last year over alleged irregularities in liquor licensing. Kejriwal's party had claimed the charges were politically motivated, and the court's decision also cleared 22 other individuals in the case.

NEW DELHI – A court in India has dismissed corruption charges against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday, refusing to move forward with a trial that his political party claimed was designed to damage his reputation.

The former anti-corruption advocate turned politician was taken into custody in March 2024 on charges brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding suspected improprieties in the distribution of alcohol licenses through a policy his administration implemented in 2022. After spending six months behind bars, he was granted bail and subsequently stepped down from his position as chief minister.

The Aam Aadmi Party, led by Kejriwal, had rejected the accusations, calling them “a desperate attempt to malign his image” in advance of both national and Delhi electoral contests.

In February 2025, the AAP suffered defeat in Delhi’s election, giving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party authority over the capital territory for the first time in nearly three decades. The 58-year-old Kejriwal had previously secured victory in three consecutive Delhi elections.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Rouse Avenue district court with visible emotion, Kejriwal stated, “We have always said the truth prevails. They slapped a false case on us but the court said that we are fiercely honest.”

The Central Bureau of Investigation announced its intention to challenge the court’s decision, claiming that “several aspects of investigation have either been ignored or not considered adequately.” The Enforcement Directorate, conducting its own separate investigation into the matter, had also been pursuing legal action against Kejriwal.

According to the CBI’s allegations, the alcohol policy established under Kejriwal’s administration provided improper benefits to private retail operators. Both Kejriwal and his associates have consistently rejected these accusations.

Defense attorney Sumer Singh Boparai, representing one of the defendants, confirmed that the court’s ruling also cleared 22 additional people, including Kejriwal’s former deputy Manish Sisodia. The complete written judgment from the trial court has not yet been made public.