'Now that the court has given...': What Anna Hazare said on court relief to Kejriwal

The court discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically sensitive excise policy case.

Updated on: Feb 27, 2026, 15:53:21 IST

Written by Priyanjali Narayan

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Social activist Anna Hazare on Tuesday said the court’s decision to discharge former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case must be respected, asserting that the country functions smoothly because of the strength of its judiciary.

“Our country runs on the strength of its judicial and security systems. Despite being such a large nation with diverse parties, castes, religions, and communities, it functions smoothly because of the judiciary. Without it, there would be chaos and unrest. Now that the court has given its verdict stating that Arvind Kejriwal is not at fault, it must be accepted," said Anna Hazare.

The court discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in the politically sensitive excise policy case, observing that the CBI had failed to establish any “overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” behind the policy.

Among those cleared in the case was Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha, who was also granted relief.

Also Read | Kejriwal breaks down after relief in Delhi liquor policy case: ‘Court said I'm kattar imaandaar'

Kejriwal on clean chit

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal broke down in tears on Friday while speaking to the media after securing major relief in the Delhi excise policy case.

“I am not corrupt. The court has said that Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are kattar imaandaar (completely honest),” the AAP national convenor said.

We ‘are honest’: Manish Sisodia

Reacting to the order, Sisodia said the ruling had reaffirmed the public’s faith in the Constitution.

"Despite all the attempts by the BJP and its agencies to prove us dishonest, today it has been established that Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia are honest," the former Delhi education minister said in a post on X.

Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party said the verdict vindicated the party’s long-held position that the case lacked merit. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the case was part of a broader conspiracy to malign the party’s leadership and pointed to the time several leaders had spent in jail.

Saurabh Bharadwaj said that although the BJP is in power in several states, it had chosen to target the "tiny Delhi government". "Honest people are defamed day and night through false cases," he alleged, adding that the CBI, ACB and police had acted on what he described as a false complaint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Priyanjali Narayan
Priyanjali Narayan is a journalist with Hindustan Times based in New Delhi. She has over two years of experience covering national and international affairs, reporting on breaking news, producing in-depth explainers, and writing feature stories. Her work explores the political, social, and cultural dimensions of major events, with a focus on providing clear, nuanced, and accessible journalism for a broad audience.Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the India Today newsroom, where she specialised in explanatory journalism. There, she wrote detailed analyses of major domestic and international issues and produced feature stories that included interviews with prominent public figures. The role strengthened her ability to combine speed with depth in a fast-paced news environment.She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in History from the University of Delhi. Her academic training continues to shape her storytelling, grounding her work in historical context and research-driven insight.Outside the newsroom, she enjoys reading personal essays and fiction, and is often planning her next trip, always seeking stories that deepen her understanding of people and places.Read More

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