'Judiciary is supreme, must accept verdict': Anna Hazare welcomes Arvind Kejriwal’s discharge in excise policy case

Hazare, Kejriwal and Sisodia had emerged as key faces of the 2011 ‘India Against Corruption’ movement, which demanded enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. (File photo)

• Anna Hazare welcomes Kejriwal's discharge in excise policy case
• Court found no conspiracy or criminal intent in liquor policy
• Hazare urges Kejriwal to work for society, not self or party

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Social activist Anna Hazare, on Friday, welcomed the discharge of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, saying the court’s verdict must be accepted as the judiciary is supreme.

A court in the national capital discharged former Delhi chief minister Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 others from the politically charged liquor policy case. The court also pulled up the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating it did not find any “overarching conspiracy or criminal intent” in the policy.

Kejriwal, who was arrested on March 21, 2024, by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case and later by the CBI probing corruption charges, was released on bail after spending 155 days in jail.

Reacting to the court’s decision, Hazare said, “Our country runs on the judiciary. The judicial system is the supreme system in the country. Ours is a big country comprising several political parties, castes, creeds and religions, and still it is running properly because of the judicial system.”

Speaking to reporters at his native village Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar district, he said that in the absence of a strong judiciary, criminal elements would gain the upper hand and there would be a riot-like situation in the country.

Referring to his past criticism of Kejriwal in connection with the case, Hazare said, “Whatever I had said about Arvind Kejriwal regarding his involvement in the case was before any decision had come from the judiciary. At that time, the allegations were in the air. Now the judiciary has given its verdict that he had no role in the (wrongdoing). We have to accept the verdict.”

“Now the court has given its decision. In our democracy, we must respect the judiciary,” he added in response to questions about his earlier remarks against the former Delhi chief minister.

Hazare also described Kejriwal and Sisodia as his “karyakartas” (volunteers/activists). “He was my karyakarta. He and Manish Sisodia were my karyakartas,” he said.

When asked what advice he would like to offer Kejriwal now, Hazare said, “Work for society and the country. Do not think about the self or the party.”

Hazare, Kejriwal and Sisodia had emerged as key faces of the 2011 ‘India Against Corruption’ movement, which demanded enactment of a strong Jan Lokpal Bill. The agitation shook the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government at the time.

Kejriwal later formed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and went on to win the Delhi elections, while Hazare disassociated himself after the movement took a political turn.

Following Kejriwal’s arrest in March 2024, Hazare had criticised him, saying it was ironic that someone who was part of the Jan Lokpal movement was held in a corruption case. He had also accused Kejriwal of betraying the trust of crores of countrymen and lamented that political ambitions destroyed the 2011 anti-corruption movement.