Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court to transfer excise policy case from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s decision to reject his request to transfer the excise policy case from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to another judge. The Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, denied Kejriwal’s plea on March 13, citing administrative reasons. The petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeks to address concerns about potential bias in the handling of the case. Kejriwal’s legal team argued that Justice Sharma’s recent order, issued on March 9, lacked clarity and raised questions about impartiality. The High Court had stayed the trial court’s direction to investigate a CBI officer involved in the excise policy case and directed the trial court to defer proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Justice Sharma also criticized the trial court’s observations, stating some were erroneous. In his petition, Kejriwal expressed apprehension that Justice Sharma’s involvement could compromise the case’s fairness. He highlighted that the High Court’s order did not provide reasons for the ex parte restraint imposed, which he argued was an extraordinary measure requiring clear grounds of illegality or perversity. Kejriwal also noted that the High Court’s directive to defer PMLA proceedings, despite the Enforcement Directorate (ED) not being a party to the case, further raised concerns about judicial neutrality. The trial court had earlier discharged Kejriwal and 22 others in the excise policy case, a decision challenged by the CBI.#delhi_high_court #arvind_kejriwal #justice_swarana_kanta_sharma #devendra_kumar_upadhyaya #enforcement_directorate
Delhi High Court to Hear CBI's Challenge Against Discharge of Liquor Policy Case Accused The Delhi High Court is set to address a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the trial court's decision to discharge all accused in the liquor policy case. The case involves prominent AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, among others. A bench led by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma will hear the matter today. Last week, Justice Sharma had raised concerns about the trial court's order, noting that some of its observations appeared prima facie erroneous. This prompted further legal action, as Kejriwal sought to transfer the case to another bench, citing apprehensions of bias against Justice Sharma. However, the High Court rejected his request, leading Kejriwal to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court to transfer the CBI's petition from Justice Sharma's bench. The CBI's plea argues that the trial court's discharge order is flawed and seeks to overturn it. The case has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the accused and the potential implications for the legal proceedings. The court's decision on this matter could set a precedent for similar cases involving political figures and public officials. Live updates from the hearing will provide further insights into the court's reasoning and the potential outcomes. The case remains a focal point for legal and political observers, given its impact on the ongoing investigations and the broader implications for judicial independence and accountability.#manish_sisodia #central_bureau_of_investigation #delhi_high_court #arvind_kejriwal #justice_swarana_kanta_sharma
