In a major turn of events in the Delhi Excise Policy scam case, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to all 23 accused, including Telangana Jagruthi leader Kavitha, former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. This development follows the trial court's decision to discharge all the accused on February 27, 2025.
The High Court’s action came after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an appeal, challenging the trial court's discharge order. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, argued that the trial court’s decision was “perverse and patently illegal” and amounted to an acquittal without a proper trial. He highlighted that the CBI's case was based on substantial evidence, and the discharge verdict undermined the legal process.
The High Court has now issued notices to the accused and has directed the trial court to defer the proceedings in the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering case related to the scam until the High Court hears the CBI's revision petition. Additionally, the High Court stayed some remarks made by the trial court against the CBI's investigating officer in the case, signaling a significant intervention in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Earlier, the trial court had sharply criticized the CBI's investigation, citing a lack of credible evidence and questioning the manner in which the agency presented its case. The court concluded that there was no “overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” against the accused, leading to their discharge. However, the High Court's decision to issue notices has now reopened the legal battle, signaling that the case is far from over.
For Kavitha, the issuance of these notices could pose a serious setback. Kavitha, who had been celebrating the trial court's discharge decision, was reportedly buoyed by the ruling just before launching her own political party. After being expelled from the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) by party founder and father K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), Kavitha announced plans to form her own party, aiming to focus on Telangana's rights and promote independent politics.
With the Delhi High Court’s latest ruling, the legal uncertainty surrounding the liquor policy case may complicate Kavitha’s political aspirations. The notices could further drag the legal battle, possibly affecting her political trajectory and the launch of her party. The Delhi High Court’s involvement in the case suggests that the liquor scam controversy may continue to impact the political landscape for some time.
