Contempt Plea Filed In Delhi HC Against Kejriwal, Saurav Das Over Alleged Social Media Campaign Against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
Fresh contempt plea filed against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Leaders and Saurav Das over alleged social media posts targeting Delhi High Court Judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
A criminal contempt petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking action against Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Leaders Gopal Rai, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Journalist Saurav Das over alleged “scandalous” and “coordinated” social media posts targeting Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma during the hearing of the excise policy case.
The petition, filed by Advocate Ashok Chaitanya under Section 15(1)(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act read with Article 215 of the Constitution, alleges that the respondents ran a deliberate online campaign aimed at lowering the authority of the Court and interfering with the administration of justice.
The matter is scheduled for hearing tomorrow before a division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja.
According to the plea, the controversy arose during proceedings in the CBI’s challenge to the discharge of Kejriwal and other accused in the Delhi excise policy case. The revision petition was being heard by Justice Sharma after the trial court discharged all accused persons.
The petition claims that after unsuccessful attempts to seek transfer of the matter and later recusal of Justice Sharma, several social media posts were published on platform X targeting the judge personally and professionally.
The plea alleges that the posts accused Justice Sharma of bias and conflict of interest based on claims relating to the professional engagements of her family members. It argues that the allegations were “factually incorrect,” “misleading,” and designed to malign the integrity of the judge.
According to the petition, the posts were amplified by multiple respondents who hold considerable public influence, indicating what the petitioner describes as a “concerted and orchestrated campaign.”
The petition further points to a post allegedly published by Kejriwal on April 27, 2026, in which he stated that he had lost hope of getting justice from Justice Sharma’s bench and announced that he would boycott the proceedings. The plea notes that the post was pinned on his social media profile, allegedly to maximise its reach and visibility.
The petitioner argues that such conduct, especially by a litigant appearing before the Court, amounted to an attempt to exert extra-judicial pressure on the judiciary during pending proceedings.
It is further contended that the circulation of these posts led to abusive and contemptuous commentary online, thereby eroding public confidence in the judicial system.
The plea states that the respondents’ actions fall squarely within the definition of “criminal contempt” under Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, as the posts allegedly scandalised the Court, lowered its authority, interfered with pending judicial proceedings, and obstructed the administration of justice.
The petition has sought initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against the respondents, issuance of notices to them, and punishment in accordance with the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
It is to be noted that on May 19, the High Court had issued notice to AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Vinay Mishra, and Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged contemnors in the suo motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated over a purported social media campaign targeting Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The contempt proceedings stem from a May 14 order passed by Justice Sharma, in which she took note of several social media posts, videos and online publications allegedly aimed at scandalising the court and undermining the judiciary in connection with proceedings arising out of the excise policy corruption case.
The contempt proceedings stem from alleged “defamatory and vilifying” remarks made against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who was hearing the CBI’s challenge to the discharge of Kejriwal and other accused in the excise policy case. Justice Sharma took note of the allegations and initiated contempt proceedings against the AAP leaders. Following this, she also directed that the excise policy case be transferred to another Bench, given that Kejriwal and Sisodia are accused in the matter.
After Kejriwal, Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak sought Justice Sharma’s recusal from the case. The judge, however, rejected the application on April 20, observing that a litigant cannot be permitted to undermine judicial authority or “sow seeds of mistrust” against the institution. Subsequently, social media posts targeting the judge surfaced, prompting the initiation of contempt proceedings. Justice Sharma also took note of letters written by Kejriwal, Sisodia and Pathak indicating a boycott of proceedings, as well as a video released by Kejriwal explaining the reasons for the boycott.
What has happened so far in the Delhi Excise policy case:
Notably, Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia had written to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court, stating that he will not participate in further hearings in the matter, citing concerns over the “appearance of impartial justice” and invoking principles of conscience and Satyagraha. Sisodia’s letter follows a similar communication by Arvind Kejriwal a day earlier. Referring to it, Sisodia stated, “I have carefully considered the substance of that letter… I find myself in respectful agreement with the stand taken by him, which is based on Mahatma Gandhi's teachings on Satyagraha.”
Case Title: Ashok Chaitanya v. Arvind Kejriwal & Ors.
Bench: Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja
Hearing Scheduled: May 22, 2026