Indian judiciary dismisses graft allegations against Kejriwal, Modi opponent

An Indian court on Friday acquitted the former chief minister of Delhi in a long-running corruption case that he had described as politically motivated by the ruling party.

Opposition Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal served as Delhi’s chief minister until he lost the 2025 elections while the case was still underway.

Kejriwal, 57, had spent several months in custody after his arrest in March 2024 over allegations that his administration accepted kickbacks linked to the allocation of liquor licenses. He became emotional as he exited the courtroom following the verdict.

“Truth has prevailed,” Kejriwal said after the ruling, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had pursued the case for political reasons.

The Delhi court dismissed all charges against Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 other defendants. A prominent critic of Modi, Kejriwal has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

In February 2025, Rekha Gupta of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party was elected chief minister of Delhi, a megacity with a population exceeding 30 million.

Kejriwal began his professional life as a tax official before leaving public service to lead an anti-corruption movement that brought him national recognition.

In recent years, several opposition figures critical of Modi have faced criminal investigations or trials, including two sitting state chief ministers. In August 2025, the government introduced legislation allowing the removal of politicians who are arrested and detained for 30 days, a proposal critics said could undermine constitutional protections.