Emotional scenes unfolded at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence, 95 Lodhi Estate in Delhi, when he was returning from Tihar Jail on Friday.
The AAP national convener celebrated with his wife Sunita Kejriwal and other family members after a Delhi court on Rouse Avenue acquitted him and party leader Manish Sisodia in a corruption case related to excise duty policy, refusing to take cognizance of CBI charges.
Sunita Kejriwal welcomed her husband by showering her with flower petals. A picture captured at the spot showed a visibly emotional Arvind Kejriwal – his expression reflecting the weight of the moment as the AAP convener and his wife shared a candid exchange.
Moments before the photo
The picture was taken shortly after Kejriwal was cleared in the liquor case and returned home after being jailed for six months. The 57-year-old looked stunned, struggling to find words as his voice broke under the weight of emotion.
Kejriwal broke down and said the corruption case against him was the “biggest political conspiracy” in the history of Independent India, PTI reported.
The special CBI court, while dismissing the CBI and ED cases in the Delhi liquor policy, questioned the conduct of the two investigating agencies as they relied only on the statements of the approvers who were pardoned in those cases.
“The investigation appears to have followed a predetermined trajectory involving virtually every person associated with the formulation or implementation of policy to lend the illusion of depth and credibility to an otherwise flimsy story,” the court said in its 598-page ruling.
What was the case with spirits?
The case in question dates back to 2022.
In 2021, the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal introduced a new excise policy – which sought to privatize trade, increase government revenue and improve the overall consumer experience, with then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tasked with overseeing the excise department.
However, in July 2022, the Chief Secretary of Delhi flagged alleged irregularities in a report and alleged that AAP officials had accepted bribes and offered undue favors to some private players, including waiving or reducing license fees, an India Today report mentioned.
Following these allegations, Delhi Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the matter, after which the policy was eventually scrapped.
The CBI filed its first charge in 2022, followed by several additional charges. The agency claimed it ₹100 million was paid to the “Southern lobby” to influence policy in their favor.
Where was the photo taken?
Photo taken by PTI news telegraph at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence – 95 Lodhi Estate in New Delhi.
