Arvind Kejriwal High Court Hearing Highlights: AAP chief seeks court's nod to argue, matter to be heard next week

The Delhi High Court on Thursday listed the excise policy case for further hearing on Monday.

The court allowed the CBI to file its reply to the recusal application submitted by Arvind Kejriwal and other accused. The bench also issued a stern warning to those who have not yet responded to the CBI's plea, stating that their rights to submit a reply could be closed. "Even today, if you give your reply, I will accept it," the court added.

AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal addressed the Delhi High Court on Thursday regarding his recusal application in the excise policy case.

Kejriwal, appearing in person, told the court that e-filing is not allowed for petitioners representing themselves and that he has brought the hard copy of his petition. "I will need the court's permission. I am ready to argue today or on any other date. I will argue this application myself and exercise my legal rights thereafter," he said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, noted that one respondent, Kejriwal, is present in court but is already represented by a lawyer. He suggested that if Kejriwal wishes to address the court personally, he should discharge his counsel and argue on his own in every hearing. “This forum, this court, is not for theatrics,” Mehta added.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday commenced hearings in the excise policy case, which has drawn multiple recusal applications. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, informed the court that seven separate petitions seeking the recusal of the presiding judge have been filed. "Some people make a career out of making allegations against others. These are not just personal claims, they target an institution," he said.

The hearing of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal's recusal plea before the Delhi High Court started on Thursday. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, argued that Kejriwal's petition could tarnish the institution's image.

The Delhi High Court will take up Aam Aadmi Patry (AAP) chief's plea in the Delhi liquor policy case after lunch. Kejriwal, accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, arrived at the court premises earlier today.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, arrived at the Delhi High Court to attend the Delhi excise policy case hearing. Kejriwal will appear and argue in person before the Delhi High Court, seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the matter. 

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal is expected to arrive at the Delhi High Court shortly, with sources indicating he is likely to reach the court premises  within the next 15 minutes.

On March 9, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stayed the trial court’s direction to initiate departmental proceedings against the CBI officer probing the liquor policy case. The court also issued notices to all 23 accused on the CBI's plea, observing that certain findings recorded by the trial court at the stage of charge framing appeared prima facie flawed and warranted closer scrutiny.

Separately, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the CBI’s appeal against his discharge in the excise policy case from the Delhi High Court bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to another judge.

In his plea, Kejriwal submitted that he has a “grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension” about the likelihood of an impartial hearing before the current bench. He pointed out that at the very outset of proceedings, Justice Sharma had made prima facie observations terming the trial court’s detailed order as “erroneous”, without affording the other side an opportunity to present its case.

On April 2, the Delhi High Court granted one last chance to former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and others to file their response to the Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking removal of what it termed 'unwarranted' remarks made by the trial court while discharging them in the liquor policy case.

In its petition, the ED argued that the trial court's observations were entirely unrelated to the CBI's case. It maintained that it was not a party to the proceedings and had not been given a chance to present its side.

In a March 11 representation, Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leader Manish Sisodia, along with other accused in the excise policy case, argued that there was a "serious and genuine apprehension" that proceedings before Justice Sharma may not remain impartial or unbiased.

In a January 22 ruling, the Rouse Avenue Court acquitted Arvind Kejriwal in the case related to skipping summons, holding that the Enforcement Directorate failed to prove any wilful non-compliance. The agency later moved the Delhi High Court on March 30, challenging the order that cleared him in the summons matter.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will appear in person before the Delhi High Court on Monday to argue in a case tied to the alleged excise policy scam, the Aam Aadmi Party said. The party said on Sunday that Kejriwal, along with other accused, has also filed a plea seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the matter. Read here.