Delhi Courts Weekly Round Up [October 27- November 2, 2025]

1. [Sexual Harassment Case] A Delhi Court was informed that nine of the sixteen alleged victims in the sexual harassment case against self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati have been examined by investigators. During the hearing of his bail plea, the investigating officer (IO) told Additional Sessions Judge Deepti Devesh of Patiala House Court that the phones of all victims and the accused have been sent for forensic analysis. The IO further said the remaining victims were out of station due to the festival holidays and would return to campus by November 4, after which their statements would be recorded. “The accused had a monopoly over the institution and took decisions himself,” the IO told the court, indicating the level of control Chaitanyananda allegedly exercised at the management institute. After hearing the submissions, Judge Devesh directed the prosecution to file a detailed status report and posted the matter for further hearing on November 7.

Bench: Additional Sessions Judge Deepti Devesh

Click here to read more

2. [Income Tax Evasion Case] A Delhi court has discharged an accused, in a prosecution launched by the Income Tax Department for alleged tax evasion and false verification under Sections 276C(1) and 277 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The case, registered as Income Tax Office vs Poonam Jain (CT. Cases 5868/2018), pertained to allegations of undisclosed offshore holdings and concealment of income for the assessment year 2009-10. The order was passed by Ms. Arjinder Kaur, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Special Acts), Central, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi, observing that the complainant department had failed to produce admissible evidence, the court held, “The evidence brought by the complainant during pre-charge evidence cannot be said to be such that the same will result in conviction of the accused if it remains unrebutted.”

Case Title: Income Tax Office v. Poonam Jain

Bench: Arjinder Kaur, ACMM (Special Acts),

Click here to read more

3. [Sandeep Dikshit] Congress leader and former MP Sandeep Dikshit has approached a Delhi court seeking a direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a further and independent investigation into alleged irregularities in the allocation of coal blocks during the period between 1993 and 2004. The plea, filed under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asserts that crucial findings by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and several statutory violations under the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 were overlooked in the agency’s probe. The application has been filed before Special Judge Dheeraj Mor. In his application filed through Advocate Sarim Naved Dikshit alleged that the CBI’s investigation into Case RC 221/2022/E0033; commonly known as the “Coal Block Allocation Case”, was “incomplete, perfunctory, and silent on key aspects of illegality” that were expressly pointed out by the CAG and other statutory bodies. He claimed the agency ignored the question of how private entities secured coal blocks despite the law reserving mining rights exclusively for government undertakings and select end-use industries.

Case Title: Central Bureau of Investigation v. Cancellation

Bench: Special Judge Dheeraj Mor

Click here to read more

4. [Kapil Mishra; 2020 Delhi Riots] A Delhi Court has reserved its order for November 10 on a plea filed by Minister Kapil Mishra challenging a lower court’s direction to register an FIR against him in connection with the 2020 Delhi riots, which claimed 53 lives. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Court who had earlier stayed the lower court’s order for the FIR, said, “Put up this matter along with the connected file for orders on November 10.” The Court heard arguments from both sides, including counsel for complainant Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, whose complaint had prompted the April order directing the registration of an FIR against Mishra. Ilyas has alleged that Mishra’s inflammatory remarks and conduct had fuelled the violence during the 2020 riots. Following the earlier Court order to book Mishra, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) intensified its demand for his resignation. Senior party leader Atishi had accused the Delhi Police and BJP government of shielding Mishra, saying, “The court has ordered an FIR against Kapil Mishra, whose inflammatory speeches in 2020 resulted in the death of 53 people. Why is he not being arrested?”

Case Title: Kapil Mishra Vs. State of NCT of Delhi & Anr Order

Bench: Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh

Click here to read more

5. [IRCTC Scam Case] A Delhi Court has sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, his wife Rabri Devi, and M/s Lara Projects sought four weeks’ time to prepare for the examination of witnesses in the alleged IRCTC scam case. The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the allotment of contracts for the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) during Lalu Prasad’s tenure as Union Railway Minister. Earlier, the court had framed charges against the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and others under Sections of the IPC for cheating and criminal conspiracy, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Court had scheduled the case for the examination of prosecution witnesses from October 27 to November 7, directing that evidence be recorded on a day-to-day basis. During Monday’s hearing, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court noted that Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, and Lara Projects had moved an application seeking four weeks to prepare for cross-examination of the witnesses who had been summoned.

Case Title: CBI Vs. Lalu Prasad Yadav & Ors. Order

Bench: Special Judge Vishal Gogne

Click here to read more

6. [2020 Delhi Riots, Umar Khalid] UAPA Accused Umar Khalid has told a Delhi court that the Delhi Police’s allegation of his involvement in “secret conspiratorial meetings” linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots was “false”, asserting that the meetings were in fact open discussions on peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). Khalid, who remains in judicial custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), made these submissions before Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai, who is presently hearing arguments on the framing of charges in the 2020 riots larger conspiracy case. The submissions came a day after the Supreme Court had questioned the Delhi Police for failing to file a response to the bail pleas of Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and other accused persons despite repeated opportunities. Appearing for Khalid, Senior Advocate Trideep Pais argued that the prosecution’s narrative of “secret meetings” did not stand scrutiny when compared with the evidence on record. “One of the protected witnesses, Sierra, told police that secret meetings were held between January 21 and 23. But pictures from the meeting were uploaded on the Facebook profile of one of the attendees. How is that secret?” Pais contended.

Bench: Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai

Click here to read more

7. [Property Defacement Case] The Rouse Avenue Court has directed the Delhi Police to expedite the investigation into a case of public property defacement involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal issued the direction after the investigating officer (IO) sought additional time to interrogate Kejriwal, citing his absence from Delhi. The court asked the IO to accelerate the process and submit a detailed status report by the next date of hearing, December 3. During the hearing, the investigating officer informed the court that former AAP MLA Gulab Singh and MCD councillor Nitika Sharma have already been questioned. However, Kejriwal’s statement could not be recorded as he was not present in the capital. “Some more time is required to conclude the investigation,” the IO submitted.

Case Title: Shiv Kumar Saxena v. Arvind Kumar & Ors.

Bench: ACJM Neha Mittal

Click here to read more

8. [CM Attack Case] A Delhi Court has directed the jail authorities to submit a medical report on the condition of accused Rajesh Bhai Khimji in the case concerning the alleged attack on Delhi Chief Minister. The order came after Khimji filed a plea seeking medical intervention, claiming he was suffering from persistent headaches due to eyesight problems. The matter was heard by Judicial Magistrate Kartik Taparia of Tis Hazari Court, which also supplied copies of the charge sheet to both accused; Rajesh Bhai Khimji and Syed Tahsin Raza, for their perusal. The court listed the case for scrutiny of documents on November 1. Delhi Police have already filed the charge sheet in the case following their investigation into the alleged attack. During the proceedings, the Court took note of Khimji’s medical plea and directed the jail authorities to file a detailed report regarding his health condition. “Let a medical report be called from the jail authorities on the application of accused Rajesh Bhai Khimji,” the court ordered.

Click here to read more

9. [Bungalow Eviction Challenge] A Delhi Court has adjourned to November 12 the hearing of an appeal filed by Seema Raj, wife of Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj, challenging her eviction from a government bungalow in Pandara Park. The matter was being heard under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. Principal District and Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna of Patiala House Court noted that the appellant’s counsel had sought additional time to file an appropriate application in the case. The Directorate of Estates, appearing for the government, filed a “vacation report” before the court, stating that the property in question had already been vacated. “Vacation report is also filed on behalf of the respondent (Directorate of Estate) to inform this court that the premises has already been got vacated from the appellant (Seema Raj),” the Court recorded. Accordingly, the court adjourned the proceedings, observing, “Counsel for the appellant seeks time to move appropriate application. Put up on November 12 for further proceedings.”

Case Title: Ms. Seema Raj Vs. Directorate of Estates, Govt. of India

Bench: Principal District & Sessions Judge Anju Bajaj Chandna

Click here to read more

10. [Chaitanyanand Saraswati] A Delhi Court has extended the judicial custody of Chaitanyanand Saraswati for another 14 days in connection with an alleged molestation case registered at Vasant Kunj North Police Station. His bail application is now scheduled to be heard on November 7. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar of Patiala House Court extended the custody till November 14 after Saraswati was produced before the Patiala House Court upon expiry of his previous remand. During the proceedings, Delhi Police sought additional time to file a status report on the bail plea, citing that several victims were currently out of station due to the session break and could not be examined. However, the court expressed displeasure, observing that an ongoing investigation was not a sufficient ground for adjournment. Earlier, the police informed the Court that statements of 16 victims have been recorded before the magistrate, and mobile phones of five victims have been seized, with the remaining 11 to be collected. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination reports are awaited. The investigating officer, ACP Ved Prakash, also stated that obscene photos and related comments were recovered, with screenshots serving as evidence.

Bench: Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar

Click here to read more

11. [Lawyer's misconduct with two women judges] The Delhi High Court has discharged an advocate from contempt proceedings after accepting his unconditional apology for allegedly misbehaving with a woman Judicial Officer and intimidating her with derogatory and threatening language during Court proceedings. A Division Bench of the High Court observed that the advocate had expressed genuine remorse and assured the Bench that such behaviour would not recur. “He assures that he would always maintain the decorum and dignity of the Court and would not repeat such act in future,” the order recorded. The proceedings originated from a complaint received earlier this year from a Judicial Magistrate posted at Dwarka Courts in South-West Delhi. The Magistrate reported that the advocate had allegedly used offensive and intimidating language in her courtroom during the course of judicial proceedings. The High Court, taking note of the seriousness of the allegations, treated the complaint as a case of criminal contempt and initiated proceedings against the advocate.

Case Title: Court on its own motion vs Haresh Singh, Advocate

Bench: Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain

Click here to read more

12. [Attempt to Murder] The Delhi High Court has quashed a 17-year-old attempt-to-murder case lodged against academic Prof. Madhu Kishwar, holding that the FIR was a fabricated, retaliatory complaint arising from an alleged altercation with the Basoya family while she was photographing unauthorised constructions in the city. Justice Amit Mahajan, while hearing Kishwar’s plea, said, “The subject FIR appears to be in the nature of defence and a maliciously motivated counter-blast to FIR No. 666/2007 for wreaking vengeance upon the petitioner.” The case arose from an incident in which the petitioner had gone to Seva Nagar Market to take photographs of illegal encroachments for documentation for her human-rights organisation Manushi. According to her, members of the Basoya family, who ran shops in the area, objected and assaulted her and her driver to stop her from taking pictures. Following this, Kishwar lodged an FIR, accusing the family of rioting and criminal intimidation.

Case Title: Prof. Madhu Kishwar v. State

Bench: Justice Amit Mahajan

Click here to read more

13. [CM Rekha Gupta] The formal trial in the case relating to the alleged attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta during a public hearing at her Civil Lines camp office on August 20 will begin on November 10, after a magistrate on Saturday committed the matter to a sessions court. Judicial Magistrate Kartik Taparia of Tis Hazari Court sent the case to the higher court for trial and listed it for further proceedings on November 10. On October 18, the Court had taken cognisance of a 400-page chargesheet filed against Sakriya Rajeshbhai Khimjibhai (41) and his associate Syed Tahsin Raza under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those relating to attempt to murder, assault or obstruction of a public servant, and criminal conspiracy. According to the chargesheet, Khimjibhai allegedly attacked Chief Minister Gupta during a “Jan Sunwai” programme after developing resentment over her public support to the Supreme Court’s August 11 order directing authorities to relocate stray dogs from public areas.

Bench: Judicial Magistrate Kartik Taparia

Click here to read more