A local court in the Indian capital New Delhi discharged former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the already scrapped excise policy case. Officials said this on Friday.

The special court refused to accept the charge sheet submitted by India’s premier investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation, citing insufficient evidence and significant gaps in the inquiry.

The court held that the charge sheet was not supported by adequate material to justify proceeding to trial.

The court pointed to “misleading averments” in the charge sheet and noted that the voluminous document contained multiple gaps that were not corroborated by evidence or witness testimony.

Investigations into the Delhi excise policy case began in August 2022 when the CBI accused the Delhi government of using the policy to favour certain liquor dealers who had allegedly paid bribes.

The policy was subsequently scrapped.

(Xinhua/NAN)