Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Launches Scathing Attack on Arvind Kejriwal After Court Discharge
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday unleashed a blistering critique of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, following a Special Court's decision to discharge him and 22 other accused in the high-profile Delhi Excise Policy case. Gupta directly challenged Kejriwal's long-standing claims of being "kattar imandaar" (brutally honest), questioning the integrity of the former Chief Minister amidst ongoing political tensions.
Gupta Questions Evidence Tampering and Policy Withdrawal
Reacting to the court's order, Chief Minister Gupta stated, "This could be a lower court's decision. We all know how the evidence was tampered with when this matter arose. Around 150 mobile phones were destroyed and their data deleted." She further pressed Kejriwal, asking, "If you were right, why did you withdraw the liquor policy as soon as the investigation began?"
Gupta accused Kejriwal of presiding over significant irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. She alleged that the commission for traders was unjustly increased from 5 percent to 12 percent, pushing the sector toward aggressive privatization that disadvantaged public interests.
Allegations of Multiple Scams and Policy Failures
The Delhi Chief Minister raised pointed questions about specific policy decisions, asking, "Can you say that giving one liquor bottle free with another was right for Delhi?" She noted that both the High Court and Supreme Court had expressed serious concerns about the policy's implementation.
Gupta expanded her criticism beyond the excise policy, targeting Kejriwal over other alleged irregularities including:
- The controversial "Sheesh Mahal" renovation project
- Alleged school infrastructure issues and incomplete projects
- Financial discrepancies in various government schemes
"You committed scams worth crores of rupees in Delhi," Gupta asserted. "You accounted for toilets as classrooms. Projects that doubled in cost are still pending. In so many of your schemes, till today, scams emerge daily."
Court's Detailed Ruling and Legal Context
The remarks follow a significant legal development where Special Judge (PC Act) Jitender Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court discharged all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in the CBI case relating to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
The court delivered a comprehensive 600-page order stating that the prosecution had failed to establish even a prima facie case. Judge Singh described the allegations as "legally infirm, unsustainable, and unfit to proceed any further in law."
The court was particularly critical of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) approach, observing that the agency's theory was based on conjectures rather than admissible evidence. The ruling cautioned against using approver statements to fill gaps in the prosecution's case and recommended a departmental inquiry against certain CBI officials.
Kejriwal's Response and Political Counterattack
Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal hailed the trial court's verdict as definitive proof of his and the AAP's integrity. Addressing a press conference, the AAP leader alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had "hatched a conspiracy" against him because they could not defeat the AAP politically.
"The court's 600-page order says there is not even the slightest evidence to have a case in this matter," Kejriwal stated. "Kejriwal and AAP are 'kattar imandaar'." He even challenged the Centre to hold fresh Delhi Assembly elections to test public sentiment.
Case Background and Ongoing Legal Battle
The case originated from allegations of corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 introduced by the AAP government. The CBI had alleged that the policy was specifically framed to benefit certain private liquor licensees by:
- Reducing license fees artificially
- Fixing profit margins to create kickback opportunities
- Resulting in significant financial loss to the Delhi government
The FIR was registered by the CBI in August 2022 following a complaint by Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena. According to the agency, a criminal conspiracy was allegedly hatched during policy formulation, with deliberate loopholes introduced to favour select entities after the tender process.
Future Legal Proceedings
Despite the Special Court's discharge order, the legal battle remains active. The CBI has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the discharge order and seeking to have it set aside. This means the legality of the trial court's decision will now undergo thorough examination at the appellate level.
With the Special Court's order discharging all accused, the matter at the trial court stage has concluded for now. However, the political ramifications and legal scrutiny continue as both sides prepare for the next phase of judicial review at the Delhi High Court.
