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Justice Manoj Jain to hear CBI’s plea against Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi: In a key development in the Delhi excise policy case, Justice Manoj Jain of the Delhi High Court will now hear the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) plea challenging the discharge of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and other accused by the trial court.
The case was earlier being heard by Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, who recused herself after initiating criminal contempt proceedings against Kejriwal and others in connection with separate developments.
Following her recusal, the matter was reassigned and scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, May 19. The AAP hailed the recusal as a significant legal ‘victory,’ emphasizing the importance of an unbiased judicial process.
CBI Seeks Continuation of Proceedings
The CBI has urged the court to review the trial court’s order that had cleared Kejriwal and his co-accused of alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju appeared on behalf of the agency, advocating for the continuation of judicial scrutiny in the matter.
Separate Contempt Proceedings Assigned
Meanwhile, separate criminal contempt proceedings related to the case have been assigned to a Division Bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja.
The High Court, during earlier hearings, expressed concern over public commentary, social media posts, and circulation of edited videos concerning the case.
The court underscored that criticism of judicial orders must remain within constitutional limits, noting that remedies against such orders are available through established appellate procedures.
