CBI slams judge’s order in Kejriwal excise case appeal, calls it a 'mini-trial'

The CBI has filed an appeal challenging a court order that discharged Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others in the excise policy case, arguing that the judge fundamentally misunderstood the prosecution’s case and the law at the charge stage. The agency contends that the special judge effectively conducted a mini-trial, dissecting separate limbs of alleged conspiracy in isolation and relying on a selective reading of the material on record.

According to the appeal, the impugned order rests on the premise that there was no evidence sufficient to form a prima facie case, and thus the accused were discharged from all charges. The CBI asserts that this conclusion is legally infirm, unsustainable, and ignores crucial parts of the prosecution’s case that suggest culpability. The agency also claims the order unfairly passed adverse remarks against the investigating agency and its officers, remarks it deems unwarranted and incomprehensible.

A central point of contention is the judge’s handling of the conspiracy theory. The CBI argues that the judge “completely ignored the basis of the conspiracy” and analyzed only small contradictions, which, in the agency’s view, does not reflect the full scope of the charges and evidence presented.

The appeal emphasizes that the judge’s approach amounted to evaluating the case with a preconceived understanding of the alleged roles, rather than applying the law and evidence to determine whether a prima facie case existed. The CBI describes the order as illegal, perverse, and subject to errors apparent on the face of the record. The developing dispute underscores the ongoing tension between the agency and the defense as this high-profile case moves through the appellate process.

As the matter advances, the next steps will involve a higher court reviewing the CBI’s contentions and the legality of the discharge. The outcome could have implications for the broader political and legal narrative surrounding the excise policy matter and those associated with it in Delhi.

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