Delhi High Court to appoint amicus curiae after Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia skip hearing in excise policy case.
May 5, 2026: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday said it will appoint three senior advocates as amicus curiae after Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak boycotted proceedings in the excise policy case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma noted the absence of the leaders and said the court would proceed with hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s appeal after appointing the amicus.
The move follows a trial court order on February 27 that discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and others, citing lack of prima facie evidence, prompting the CBI to challenge the decision. The High Court had earlier stayed certain observations against a CBI officer and deferred related proceedings. The case has since seen multiple legal twists, including pleas for transfer and recusal, all of which were rejected.
Despite being given opportunities to respond, the AAP leaders chose to stay away, citing concerns over bias. Legal experts note that appointing an amicus allows the court to continue proceedings with neutral assistance on legal and factual issues. The High Court is now set to hear the matter on merits after finalising the amicus appointment.