Delhi High Court Issues Notice to CBI on Kejriwal's Petition Regarding Judge Removal

Delhi High Court's Notice to CBI

On Monday, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concerning a petition filed by Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The petition seeks the removal of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma in relation to the excise policy case. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 13. According to reports, the court has acknowledged the application for Justice Sharma's removal and noted that the opposing party has been informed in advance. They are required to submit their response by tomorrow.

Previous Court Decisions

Earlier, Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay rejected Kejriwal's request to transfer the CBI's petition from Justice Sharma's court to another judge. He stated that the decision to recuse oneself from the case rests with the concerned judge. Along with Kejriwal, AAP leader Manish Sisodia and other defendants in the excise policy case expressed in a statement on March 11 that there exists a 'serious, real, and reasonable apprehension' that the hearing before Justice Sharma would not be fair and impartial. The trial court had previously acquitted Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others on February 27.

CBI's Case Under Scrutiny

The court criticized the CBI during the proceedings, indicating that its case did not hold up under judicial scrutiny and was deemed entirely unreliable. In response to an appeal filed by the CBI against the trial court's decision, Justice Sharma issued notices to all 23 defendants on March 9, stating that some comments and conclusions made by the lower court during the charge framing stage appeared prima facie erroneous and warranted further consideration. Additionally, Justice Sharma's bench has also put a hold on the lower court's recommendation for departmental action against the CBI's investigating officer in the excise policy case.