Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other accused individuals have filed a recusal application before the Delhi High Court, requesting a different Bench from that of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to hear the alleged Delhi excise policy case. Kejriwal is expected to personally present arguments in support of the recusal plea at the Delhi High Court on Monday.
The move comes amidst ongoing proceedings in the Delhi High Court regarding a criminal revision petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI has contested a trial court’s decision to discharge all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in a corruption case linked to the now-defunct excise policy.
Justice Sharma had previously issued a notice to the accused based on the CBI’s plea challenging the discharge order by the Rouse Avenue Court. The recusal application has been submitted while the Delhi High Court is handling related petitions, including one by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking the removal of adverse remarks against it in the discharge order.
The trial court, in its ruling on February 27, acquitted all accused individuals, stating that there was no evidence of an overarching conspiracy in the formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22. However, the CBI has argued that the discharge order was unjust and amounted to an acquittal without a trial, alleging manipulation of the policy to favor specific private liquor entities in exchange for alleged bribes.
