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Excise case: Justice Sharma to initiate contempt proceedings over vilifying posts
Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said she will initiate contempt proceedings against some discharged accused in the liquor policy case for vilifying material about her and the court, and she will pronounce an order around 5 p.m. This occurred during a hearing on the CBI petition challenging the trial court's discharge of Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others, with amici curiae to be appointed for unrepresented respondents.
Why It Matters
The move highlights the judiciary's step to address contempt and defamation in a high-profile political case, underscoring tensions between ruling party figures and the courts while the CBI challenges a discharge order.
Timeline
4 Events
May 14, 2026: Justice Sharma to initiate contempt proceedings over vilifying posts
May 14, 2026
During the hearing on the CBI petition challenging the trial court's discharge order, Justice Sharma said she cannot stay silent and will initiate contempt proceedings against some of the discharged respondents for posting vilifying and defamatory material about her and the court. She said she will pronounce an order around 5 p.m. The hearing also saw Kejriwal and MLAs boycott after she refused to recuse.
April 20, 2026: Recusal pleas rejected
April 20, 2026
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the applications seeking her recusal, saying judges cannot recuse themselves to satisfy a litigant's unfounded apprehension of bias. The pleas by Kejriwal, Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak, among others, had sought her recusal.
April 5, 2026: None appeared for AAP leaders; right to file replies closed; amici curiae to be appointed
April 5, 2026
The court noted that none appeared for the AAP leaders in proceedings and closed their right to file replies. It stated it would pass an order appointing three senior lawyers to represent them as amici curiae.
Trial court discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and 21 others in liquor policy case
February 27, 2026
The trial court discharged former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others, ruling that the liquor policy case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entirety.