New Delhi, March 16: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approached the Supreme Court to contest a decision made by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. This ruling rejected his request to transfer the hearing of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) petition regarding the Delhi excise policy case from Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma’s bench.
In a writ petition filed in the Supreme Court, Kejriwal challenged a letter from the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court. The letter stated that Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay found no reason to assign the case to another bench.
According to the petition, Chief Justice Upadhyay denied the request on the grounds that the case was already allocated to Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma as per the current roster, and there was no reason to transfer it administratively.
Kejriwal argued that the refusal to transfer the case raises a “serious, real, and reasonable apprehension” that the hearing may not proceed with fairness and neutrality.
He also referenced previous orders related to the excise policy, where Justice Sharma had denied bail to several accused, only for the Supreme Court to later grant them bail.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader has also filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging comments made by Justice Sharma during the hearing of the CBI’s review petition.
Meanwhile, sources indicate that these matters are likely to be raised before the Supreme Court on Monday, with an immediate hearing requested.
Last week, a single-judge bench of Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma at the Delhi High Court stayed a lower court’s directive for departmental action against the CBI officer investigating the case. The court stated that comments made against the investigation agency and the officer would be suspended.
The CBI’s petition had issued notices to Kejriwal, Sisodia, and other respondents, challenging the lower court’s refusal to frame charges against the accused.
The agency’s criminal revision petition contests a ruling from the Rouse Avenue Court, which acquitted all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, in a corruption case linked to the now-repealed excise policy initiated by the then AAP-led Delhi government.
The trial court concluded that the evidence on record did not substantiate the alleged extensive conspiracy behind the formulation of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, which was later annulled amid allegations of corruption and bribery.
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My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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