Indian court dismisses corruption case against opposition leader Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI — An Indian court on Friday dismissed a corruption case against opposition leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a decision his party maintains proves the charges were politically motivated.

Kejriwal, an anti-corruption activist turned politician, was arrested in March 2024 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over alleged irregularities in liquor licenses issued under a 2022 policy. He was released on bail six months later and subsequently resigned as chief minister.

Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has long denied the allegations. The party lost the Delhi elections in February 2025, yielding control of the capital to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party for the first time in 27 years.

"Truth always wins," Kejriwal told reporters. "They built a fake case, but the court has said that we are completely clean."

The CBI said it plans to appeal the ruling. The court order also acquitted 22 other individuals, including Kejriwal’s former deputy, Manish Sisodia.

The recent court ruling marks a decisive political and symbolic victory for Arvind Kejriwal, validating long-standing claims by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that federal investigations into its leadership amounted to a "political witch hunt." For Kejriwal, the judgment serves as a critical rebuttal to allegations he maintains were orchestrated to sideline the opposition during key electoral cycles.

However, the legal win comes after significant political costs have already been incurred. Kejriwal’s March 2024 arrest severely hampered the AAP’s organizational capacity, contributing to the party's historic losses in the February 2025 Delhi elections. The case further fuels a growing national debate regarding the perceived weaponization of federal enforcement agencies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi—a trend that critics argue undermines the neutrality of India’s democratic institutions.

For the 58-year-old Kejriwal, the acquittal offers a pathway to political rehabilitation. Beyond restoring his personal standing, the verdict provides the AAP with a potent "martyrdom" narrative, framing their struggle as a triumph over "trumped-up" charges. This shift in optics has the potential to re-energize the party’s rank-and-file and solidify its status as a resilient opposition force.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has indicated it will appeal the decision, the trial court’s ruling represents a significant blow to the government’s prosecutorial credibility in this specific matter. Although the legal battle is set to continue in the higher courts, the political momentum has fundamentally tilted back in Kejriwal’s favor.