Delhi Excise Policy Case: High Court Defers CBI Plea Against Kejriwal, Sisodia; Hearing on May 4

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who was to hear the matter, directed that the entire record be summoned positively by the next day and adjourned the case for hearing on May 4 at 2:30 PM.

“I have not received the entire record from the trial court. I will hear the matter on Monday,” the Court observed.

At the outset, Advocate Farrukh Khan, appearing in the matter, informed the Court that an interlocutory application had been filed.

Notably, Kejriwal, Sisodia and co-accused had chosen not to appear in person or through counsel during the proceedings.

The Court also recorded that some respondents had already filed their replies and granted a final opportunity to the remaining parties to do so by May 2.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S. V. Raju and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh, were present in court when the matter was taken up.

In a connected development, the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking expunction of adverse remarks made by the special judge is also listed for hearing on May 4.

The case pertains to the CBI’s appeal challenging the discharge of the accused in the alleged irregularities surrounding the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

It is to be noted that 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.”