Liquor Policy Case: Delhi HC Issues Notice to Kejriwal, Sisodia, Sanjay Singh on CBI Plea Over Document Disclosure
The Delhi High Court on Friday, July 4, 2025, issued notices to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh in a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), challenging a trial court order regarding the disclosure of investigation-related documents in the Delhi liquor policy case.
A single-judge bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja, while issuing notice to the accused, said the court would pass a detailed order in due course.
The CBI has assailed the trial court’s order dated May 22, 2024, which directed the agency to furnish a complete list of all notices, summons, and written communications issued in the excise policy case, along with the responses received, and classify them as either relied-upon or unrelied-upon documents (URDs).
The trial court had further directed the agency to provide this list to the accused, enabling them to inspect the documents. Additionally, it required the Investigating Officer (IO) to file an affidavit confirming that no documents had been withheld or omitted.
During the proceedings, Justice Ravinder Dudeja questioned the CBI on what potential prejudice would be caused by complying with the trial court’s directive.
In response, the agency’s counsel argued that such a direction could set a “dangerous precedent” and effectively alter the established procedure of criminal trials.
Counsel representing the accused, however, contended that the CBI is afraid that its “faulty investigation” will be exposed if the complete set of documents is disclosed.
In December last year, the High Court had issued notices to Kejriwal, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K. Kavitha, and others on a similar plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The investigative agency had challenged a trial court order, which directed the ED to share scanned copies of all unrelied-upon documents and digital devices with the accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) investigation.
Notably, the CBI is probing the alleged irregularities in the formulation of the excise policy. On the other hand, the ED is investigating the money laundering aspect arising from it.
The Delhi liquor policy was introduced in November 2021 and rolled back by September 2022 after allegations of corruption.
Several senior AAP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, are named in the ongoing investigation into the alleged scam.