The Delhi High Court postponed the hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) petition challenging the discharge of AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and others in an alleged excise policy corruption case. The court deferred the matter to May 11, awaiting consent from certain senior advocates proposed to assist as amici curiae for the accused who decided not to participate. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, mentioned that replies were filed to applications by other accused individuals.
The court had previously indicated appointing three senior advocates as amici curiae to represent the AAP leaders who opted out of the proceedings. Justice Sharma observed that the respondents were not present or represented by counsel, emphasizing the need for amici curiae before proceeding. The AAP leaders chose to abstain from the proceedings after Justice Sharma refused to recuse herself from the case, expressing their reasons in letters to the court.
In a detailed judgment, the trial court had discharged all accused, rejecting claims of a conspiracy and stating the excise policy resulted from a consultative process. The CBI’s revision plea alleges manipulation in the excise policy by the former AAP-led Delhi government to benefit specific liquor traders. Kejriwal and Sisodia reserved their right to challenge any adverse order before the Supreme Court, citing personal conviction for abstaining from the proceedings.
