Kejriwal verdict: Congress claims saffron hand, BJP says legal battle far from over

Rival parties Congress and BJP reacted sharply to the acquittal of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders in the Delhi excise policy case, but there was a key difference.

While the Congress, AAP’s on-and-off ally in the INDIA bloc, alleged a BJP hand behind the acquittal, the saffron party maintained that the lower court’s ruling was not the end of Kejriwal’s troubles, saying “the legal battle is far from over”.

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As Congress’s Pawan Khera accused the BJP of misusing central investigative agencies for political ends, he also alleged that the saffron party was pursuing a “Congress-mukt Bharat” agenda, and this was part of it.

Khera claimed that cases against Congress leaders intensify before elections, while proceedings against its “convenient allies” slow down. “The BJP is not a political party; it is a shape-shifter — an ‘Icchadhari Naag.’ It will stoop to any level to achieve its obsessive goal of defeating the Congress,” Khera said, reflecting clear differences in the INDIA bloc partners.

He further alleged that for 12 years the BJP “spewed venom” at the Trinamool Congress but has now softened its stance to target the Congress. With elections approaching, Khera claimed, cases against Congress leaders would accelerate, while those involving others would fade. He cited former Union minister P. Chidambaram’s renewed scrutiny as Tamil Nadu heads for polls.

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya maintained that the allegations of kickbacks were serious and that the acquittal had come from a lower court. According to Malviya, the kickbacks are not imaginary, they are matters placed before courts and the public. Whether this judgment withstands scrutiny in higher courts remains to be seen, he said.

“The investigating agency has indicated it will appeal. Higher judicial forums will once again examine the material. The legal battle is far from over, but for many citizens, this order raises troubling questions about accountability and justice in high public office,” he said.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi echoed similar sentiments, stating that the acquittal was granted due to a lack of proof but arguing that questions remain.

“This is a technical matter…it is also true that many SIM cards and phones were destroyed as evidence. With what intent was that evidence destroyed? What has led to this lack of evidence? It is a technical matter, the CBI will take the next step,” he said.