NEW DELHI : A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in two cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over alleged non-appearance before the agency in the ongoing Delhi excise policy money laundering probe. The ruling provides a major legal relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo amid long-running litigation.
The judgment was delivered by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal at the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi. The ED had approached the court in February 2024, seeking action against Kejriwal for failing to comply with multiple summons issued under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In a related development, the court also acquitted AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in one case and discharged him in another tied to alleged non-compliance with ED summons in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case.
Court Cites Procedural Flaws in Summons Service
The court noted significant procedural issues in the way ED issued and served summons to Arvind Kejriwal. In its detailed ruling, the judge said that issuing summons via email was neither valid nor legal under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) or the PMLA.
The judgment highlighted that the ED failed to prove due service of the summons and did not meet the legal requirements under the Evidence Act. As a result, the court held that the prosecution could not establish intentional disobedience of lawful orders.
“The prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” the court said, emphasizing that procedural, legal, and factual challenges prevented a conviction.
Legal analysts say the court’s finding on the invalidity of email service could have broader implications for how federal agencies serve notices in white-collar probes.
Background of the Excise Policy Investigation
The ED’s probes stem from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case registered on August 17, 2022, over alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy for 2021-22. This policy was later scrapped after the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, ordered a CBI investigation alleging procedural lapses and undue favors extended to select license holders.
Following the CBI complaint on July 20, 2022, the ED registered a separate case on August 22, 2022, under the PMLA to probe alleged money-laundering linked to the excise policy matter.
Kejriwal faced multiple summons from the ED but did not appear before the agency despite repeated notices. The ED then filed complaints in court seeking action against him for non-compliance.
Notably, Kejriwal was arrested in the main excise policy probe on March 21, 2024, marking him as the first sitting Indian chief minister to be arrested in such a context, following a challenge in the Delhi High Court to his anticipatory bail.
Arvind Kejriwal Welcomes Verdict, AAP Reacts
Following the verdict, Kejriwal took to social media platform X and posted “Satyamev Jayate” (truth alone triumphs), signaling his satisfaction with the court’s decision.
Senior AAP leaders described the acquittal as a vindication of Arvind Kejriwal stance that he was being unfairly targeted by central agencies. However, opposition parties criticized the verdict, suggesting it underscores ongoing debates about enforcement agency conduct and political interference in legal matters.
Political commentators say the court’s ruling comes at a sensitive time, with the ED and CBI investigations continuing in parallel and with significant public interest around political accountability and legal procedure.
What Happens Next in the Legal Battle?
Despite Thursday’s acquittal in the summons cases, the broader Delhi excise policy investigation continues. The CBI and ED cases into alleged irregularities and financial improprieties linked to the 2021-22 policy remain active, and further hearings are scheduled in the main trial.
In one related matter, counsel for Kejriwal argued that the chargesheet against him was largely a repetition of earlier filings, calling for scrutiny of the evidence and process. The court reviewed preliminary arguments and has slated further deliberations for February 7, 2026.
Legal experts say while the acquittals do not end the broader legal exposure Kejriwal faces, they remove a specific cloud of potential criminal liability tied solely to the ED summonses.