‘Truth Always Wins…I am Kattar Imaandaar’ Kejriwal Breaks Down After Court Clears Him, Sisodia in Liquor Scam Probe

Dramatic and emotional scenes unfolded outside a Delhi court on Friday after AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and several others were acquitted in the high-profile excise policy case. Minutes after the ruling, Kejriwal addressed the media but struggled to hold back tears, his voice trembling as he spoke about what he called years of “false allegations” and political targeting.

“I am not corrupt… the court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are kattar imaandaar,” he said, pausing repeatedly as he tried to compose himself. Sisodia, standing beside him, appeared to console him while supporters chanted slogans nearby. Kejriwal added, “Truth always wins. This verdict proves our innocence.”
The AAP chief said the case had caused immense personal and political strain, not just for him but for his colleagues and families. “For years they kept saying there was a liquor scam and made allegations against us. Today the court has dismissed all charges and acquitted everyone,” he told reporters. Calling the case “completely fake,” he alleged it had been designed to weaken his party and tarnish its image ahead of key elections.

According to the court’s order, investigators failed to present adequate material to justify proceeding with the prosecution, leading to the discharge of all accused. The ruling effectively brings a major legal setback for the agencies that had pursued the case for years and had earlier described it as involving serious irregularities. Kejriwal framed the verdict as a larger political message. “I have only learned honesty in life. Today that belief has been strengthened,” he said, adding that he hoped the judgment would restore faith among supporters who stood by him during the legal battle.

The case had dominated political discourse for a long time, triggering arrests, raids, and intense exchanges between the ruling party at the Centre and the AAP leadership. Friday’s verdict immediately sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum. AAP leaders hailed it as proof that the allegations were baseless, while rival parties said legal scrutiny in related matters was not necessarily over. For Kejriwal, however, the moment was clearly personal. As he finished speaking, he folded his hands before supporters and quietly stepped away, still visibly emotional, a stark contrast to his usually combative political persona.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested in March 2024 in connection with the excise policy case - for the first time a sitting chief minister was arrested. He remained in custody for several months, first under Enforcement Directorate detention and later in judicial custody, before being granted interim relief and subsequently regular bail. In total, he spent over five months in jail, during which AAP leaders repeatedly termed the arrest politically motivated, while central agencies maintained it was part of an ongoing corruption investigation. Riding on this case and his arrest, BJP ran a massive campaign against AAP, eventually wrested power from Kejriwal and came to power in Delhi in February 2025 after a 27-year hiatus, winning a decisive mandate in the 70-member legislative assembly.​