The Delhi High Court has issued notices to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gopal Rai and journalist Saurav Das in a criminal contempt petition. This petition alleges the circulation of scandalous social media content against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma regarding the excise policy case. The court also directed that the matters involving AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj be heard together on August 4.
The petition, filed under the Contempt of Courts Act, sought contempt proceedings against Kejriwal and Bharadwaj. However, the court observed that Kejriwal and Bharadwaj had already been issued notices in earlier criminal contempt proceedings. The newly impleaded proposed contemnors were directed to file their replies before the next hearing, and the court ordered the preservation of social media material relied upon in the latest petition.
The petition mentioned attempts to transfer the excise policy case and recusal of Justice Sharma. Allegations were made against the judge on social media platforms, portraying bias and conflict of interest. Earlier, the court had initiated criminal contempt proceedings against AAP leaders for alleged attempts to scandalize the judiciary in connection with the excise policy case.
