An Indian court has acquitted the former chief minister of Delhi in a corruption case that he alleged was a “political plot” orchestrated by the ruling party. Arvind Kejriwal, a leader of the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi chief minister, was cleared by the court after facing allegations of receiving kickbacks in liquor license allocations during his tenure. Kejriwal, 57, who had spent time in jail following his arrest in 2024, expressed relief at the verdict, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had conspired against AAP. Along with Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others were also acquitted of all charges.
Despite being a vocal critic of Modi, Kejriwal maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. Following his defeat in the 2025 elections, Rekha Gupta, a member of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, assumed the position of chief minister of Delhi. Kejriwal, who transitioned from a tax collector to an anti-corruption activist, gained national prominence for his advocacy work.
In recent years, several of Modi’s political adversaries have faced legal scrutiny, with some state chief ministers also undergoing investigations. In a controversial move in August 2025, the government proposed legislation that would allow the removal of politicians if they are arrested and held in custody for 30 days. Critics denounced the bill as an attempt to undermine constitutional safeguards.