Court directs AAP leaders to file replies by Saturday, hearing to begin Monday
April 29, 2026: The Delhi High Court has granted a “last opportunity” to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak and others to file their responses to a Central Bureau of Investigation appeal in the excise policy case. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed them to submit their replies by Saturday, stating that hearings will begin on Monday. The directive came after some respondents had yet to file their responses to the CBI’s petition.
The development follows the absence of Kejriwal, Sisodia and Pathak from the court proceedings after the judge declined to recuse herself from the case. Kejriwal had earlier written to the court expressing concerns about bias, stating he would not appear before the judge. Similar letters were submitted by Sisodia and Pathak. The court, however, rejected the recusal plea, noting there was no valid ground for such a request.
The High Court is hearing the CBI’s challenge to a trial court order that had discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others in the excise policy case, citing lack of prima facie evidence. Earlier, the court had stayed certain observations against a CBI officer and deferred related proceedings. It has now sought trial court records and issued notices on related applications, as the matter moves towards a detailed hearing next week.