Delhi High Court To Take Up Contempt Case Against Kejriwal, Sisodia Over Alleged Vilification Of Judge On May 19
Delhi High Court issued notice to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in a suo motu contempt case over alleged social media campaign against a sitting judge
A Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja of the Delhi High Court is likely to hear on Tuesday a suo motu criminal contempt case initiated against Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Vinay Mishra, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Durgesh Pathak.
The Bench headed by Justice Chawla is currently assigned the roster for criminal contempt matters.
The 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.
The controversy arose 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.
It is to be noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation’s petition challenging the discharge of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other accused in the corruption case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam will also be heard by Justice Manoj Jain on May 19.
What has happened so far in the Delhi Excise policy case:
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.”
Bench: Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja
Hearing Scheduled: May 19, 2026