‘Excise policy case involves biggest scam,’ CBI tells Delhi HC; notice issued to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia

The Delhi High Court today issued notice to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and 21 others on the CBI appeal challenging the trial court’s order that discharged all 23 accused in the Delhi excise policy case.

Appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a single-judge Bench of Justice Swarnakanta Sharma that the case involved “one of the biggest scams in the history of the national capital”.

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“This is one of the biggest scams in the national capital. A scientific investigation has been conducted. The conspiracy and its various facets have been established,” SG Mehta argued.

#WATCH | Delhi Excise policy CBI case: ASG (Additional Solicitors General) DP Singh says, “The Solicitor General argued this case and vehemently put our point. And after hearing him, the court has issued notice. The court has also stayed any adverse remarks against the officers… https://t.co/gua12EqC1d pic.twitter.com/19EN8vqkum

— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2026

SG Tushar Mehta told the Court that the Rouse Avenue Court’s order discharging AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the 2021-22 excise policy case was “perverse” and effectively amounted to an acquittal without trial. According to the CBI, the order had the effect of granting an acquittal even before a full-fledged trial could begin. He said, “This is a petition challenging the discharge order. The basic charge is that a manipulated policy was created, which facilitated certain traders.”

Mehta argued that the trial court erred in holding that there was no corroborative material against the accused. Stressing that there is enough corroborative material, which cannot be brushed away, SG submitted that the stage of discharge is not where you examine corroboration in detail. He emphasised that it is a clear case of corruption, where bribes were taken, accepted, and utilised, meetings took place, and forensic evidence is available.

The next hearing is scheduled for March 16.