Home Nation Delhi High Court Judge Transfers Arvind Kejriwal Excise Policy Case

Delhi High Court Judge Transfers Arvind Kejriwal Excise Policy Case

Aditi Tomar
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Delhi High Court Judge Transfers Arvind Kejriwal Excise Policy Case
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday initiated contempt proceedings against Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and several senior party leaders over what Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma described as a coordinated online campaign aimed at maligning the judiciary during hearings in the Delhi excise policy case. At the same time, Justice Sharma announced that the excise policy matter involving Kejriwal and other AAP leaders would now be transferred to another bench. She clarified that the decision should not be interpreted as a recusal, but rather as an act of “judicial discipline” after initiating contempt proceedings in the matter. “For a judge who is being targeted, it is a very lonely battle… This is not recusal. This is judicial discipline,” Justice Sharma observed in court. The judge said “extremely vilifying, extremely contemptuous, and defamatory material” was being circulated online against her and her family members by the respondents, amounting to an attack on the institution of the judiciary itself. According to the court, a “parallel narrative” was allegedly being created outside the courtroom through social media campaigns while the hearings in the liquor policy case were underway. “A coordinated campaign was being carried out by contemnors armed with political powers,” the judge said, adding that edited videos and defamatory content involving her family members were circulated online in an attempt to intimidate both her and the judiciary. Justice Sharma said she had two options in response to the alleged campaign — either be intimidated or initiate contempt proceedings. “I have chosen to initiate contempt. Arvind Kejriwal cannot intimidate me,” she remarked. The contempt proceedings have been initiated not only against Kejriwal but also against senior AAP leaders including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Durgesh Pathak, Vinay Mishra and Devesh Vishwakarma. The judge also indicated that action could extend to certain YouTubers and social media accounts allegedly involved in amplifying edited videos and defamatory material linked to the case. The controversy erupted after Kejriwal questioned Justice Sharma’s impartiality and sought her recusal from hearing matters related to the Delhi liquor policy case. The AAP chief had alleged bias, citing the judge’s alleged participation in events associated with the RSS. Justice Sharma had rejected the recusal plea earlier, stating there was no material to support claims of prejudice. Following the refusal, Kejriwal publicly announced that he would no longer appear before the judge in the excise policy case. In a post shared on X, the former Delhi Chief Minister said, “My hope of receiving justice from Justice Swarnkanta Sharma Ji has been shattered… Listening to the voice of my conscience, adhering to the principles of Gandhi Ji, and with the spirit of Satyagraha, I have decided that I will not appear before her in this case and will not present any arguments either.” Justice Sharma, while addressing the court on Thursday, said judges are trained to accept criticism and dissent, but added that silence cannot always be equated with judicial restraint. “The robe worn by a judge demands calmness. However, sometimes remaining silent is not judicial restraint. The moment has arrived today,” she said. She further stressed that the judiciary survives not through power but through public confidence, and any attempt to weaken that trust through coordinated attacks constitutes serious contempt. The Delhi excise policy case has remained one of the most politically sensitive legal battles involving AAP leaders, with multiple investigations by central agencies into alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy. SEO Title Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Leaders Face Contempt Proceedings; Delhi HC Judge Transfers Liquor Policy Case

A dramatic turn unfolded in the Delhi excise policy case on Thursday after Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma announced that the matter involving Arvind Kejriwal and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders would now be heard by another bench.

The development came shortly after Justice Sharma initiated contempt proceedings against several top AAP leaders, accusing them of spreading “extremely vilifying, contemptuous and defamatory” material targeting both her and the judiciary.

However, the judge made it clear that the transfer of the case should not be interpreted as her accepting Kejriwal’s plea seeking her recusal.

“This Is Judicial Discipline, Not Recusal”

While addressing the court, Justice Sharma remarked that since she had initiated contempt proceedings in the matter, it would be appropriate for another bench to hear the case going forward.

“For a judge who is being targeted, it is a very lonely battle… This is not recusal. This is judicial discipline,” the judge observed during the hearing.

Earlier, Kejriwal had sought Justice Sharma’s recusal from the excise policy case, alleging bias and claiming she had participated in events linked to the RSS. The judge had refused to step aside, saying there was no material to substantiate allegations of prejudice or partiality.

Contempt Proceedings Against Top AAP Leaders

Justice Sharma ordered contempt proceedings against several senior AAP leaders, including:

  • Arvind Kejriwal
  • Manish Sisodia
  • Sanjay Singh
  • Saurabh Bhardwaj
  • Durgesh Pathak
  • Vinay Mishra
  • Devesh Vishwakarma

The judge alleged that a “parallel narrative” was being created outside the courtroom through a coordinated digital campaign led by individuals “armed with political powers”.

According to Justice Sharma, edited videos and online posts were circulated to intimidate not only her personally but also the institution of the judiciary itself.

“My family members were dragged and vilified with edited videos… It was to intimidate not only me but the institution of the judiciary,” she said.

Kejriwal Had Publicly Questioned Fairness Of Proceedings

The latest developments follow a recent post by Kejriwal on X, in which he publicly expressed a lack of faith in receiving justice from Justice Sharma.

“My hope of receiving justice from Justice Swarnkanta Sharma Ji has been shattered,” the AAP chief wrote.

Referring to Mahatma Gandhi and the principle of Satyagraha, Kejriwal had also declared that he would neither appear before the judge nor present arguments in the case.

Justice Sharma responded sharply on Thursday, stating that while judges are trained to accept criticism and dissent, there comes a point when silence can no longer be treated as judicial restraint.

“I am trained to accept fair criticism and dissent… The robe worn by the judge demands calmness,” she observed.

“However, sometimes remaining silent is not judicial restraint. The moment has arrived today,” she added.

Excise Policy Case Continues To Intensify

The Delhi excise policy case has remained one of the most politically charged legal battles in recent years, with several senior AAP leaders facing allegations linked to corruption and irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy.

Kejriwal is among the key accused in the case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The latest courtroom developments are likely to further intensify the ongoing political and legal confrontation between the AAP leadership and investigating agencies.