CBI in the dock: Court calls out 'abuse,' says hold officer to account, Pg5

Key Highlights:

• A Delhi court discharged Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others in the CBI's excise policy case, citing lack of evidence.
• The court criticized the CBI's investigation as a "conscious abuse of official position" and recommended departmental proceedings against the Investigating Officer.
• The court found no evidence of manipulation in policy formulation or corruption in implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.
• The CBI's bribery allegations of a Rs 100-crore bribe were dismissed as speculative and lacking admissible evidence.

Detailed Insights:

• The court found that the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative exercise, contradicting the prosecution's claim of manipulation.
• The court noted inconsistencies in statements of approvers and lack of corroboration, undermining the CBI's claims of conspiracy and bribery.
• The court deemed "pauti" entries from Angadia firms inadmissible as evidence, as they were not part of regularly maintained books of account.
• The ruling is a boost for the Aam Aadmi Party, whose leaders were accused in the excise policy case, and may impact the ED's money-laundering probe linked to the same issue.
• The Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 aimed to increase excise revenue, standardize distribution, and curb illegal liquor sales by shifting to a fully privatized model.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Approver: A person involved in a crime who testifies against their accomplices in exchange for leniency.
• Hawala: An informal system of transferring money without physical movement, based on trust and a network of brokers.
• Predicate Offence: A crime that is a component of a more serious crime, such as money laundering.