The Delhi High Court has issued notices to Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and other AAP leaders in a criminal contempt case over alleged defamatory social media posts targeting a judge. The next hearing is scheduled for August 4.
Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP functionaries for a social media campaign targeting her, then transferred the excise policy case appeal to another bench.
Delhi High Court rejected Arvind Kejriwal's plea to recuse Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from the excise policy case, citing lack of evidence for bias claims. Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have now refused to appear before the judge, escalating the legal and political standoff. The court warned against forum shopping and undermining judicial independence.
Delhi High Court rejected Arvind Kejriwal's recusal plea against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in the excise policy case, with the judge strongly defending judicial independence. Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia subsequently announced they would not appear before the bench, claiming their hope of justice was shattered. The court held that allegations against the judge were based on conjectures rather than concrete evidence, and warned that allowing unsupported recusal requests would undermine public faith in the justice system.
AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal have declared they will not appear in proceedings before Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma in the Delhi High Court's excise policy case. Citing a lack of hope for justice and potential conflict of interest, they are opting for Satyagraha instead of legal representation.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will not appear in the excise policy case, citing perceived bias after his recusal plea was dismissed. He frames his decision as a conscientious protest, invoking Gandhi's satyagraha.
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written to Delhi High Court justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refusing to appear before the court in the Delhi excise policy case, citing he has 'lost hope of getting justice' and will follow Mahatma Gandhi's path of Satyagraha. This comes after the high court rejected his plea seeking the recusal of Justice Sharma, who addressed allegations about her children being central government panel counsels, stating such insinuations are unfounded.
Delhi High Court dismissed Arvind Kejriwal's plea to recuse Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from the excise policy case, deeming it based on conjecture. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj accused Kejriwal of pressuring the judiciary. Justice Sharma clarified her participation in professional events and family government counsel roles did not indicate bias, stating the plea put the judiciary on trial.
