The Delhi High Court has decided to pass an order staying the observations of the trial court against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and its investigating officer in the now-scrapped 2021–22 Delhi excise policy case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said she would also pass an order directing the trial court to defer the money laundering case that stemmed from the CBI case and await the outcome of its appeal against the February 27 verdict.
The trial court had discharged 23 accused, including former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others, concluding that the CBI's material did not even disclose a prima facie case, let alone a grave suspicion.
The CBI had alleged that the excise policy was altered to favour a group of liquor businessmen known as the "South Group" in exchange for bribes, which were allegedly routed to AAP's Goa election campaign.
The CBI had filed five charge sheets, and the ED investigated related money-laundering allegations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
