Delhi HC gives Kejriwal, Sisodia 4 weeks to file replies on CBI plea against discharge in excise policy case

New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Monday gave four weeks to former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and others to file replies on CBI’s application challenging their discharge in the alleged excise policy corruption case.

Calling it a last chance to file replies, Justice Manoj Jain posted the matter for next hearing on October 5 and 6, adding that arguments will be heard in one go on that occasion and no further adjournments will be granted.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), opposed the AAP leaders’ plea for more time to file their response, calling the tactic childish.

Sisodia, in his petition, said the CBI filed its petition “without a second thought” within 4 hours of the trial court’s verdict. The petition did not specify which evidence was ignored against which accused.

In a judgment running to more than 1,100 paragraphs, delivered on February 27, the trial court discharged all accused in the corruption case lodged by the CBI, holding that the now-scrapped excise policy was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative process and that the prosecution failed to establish any overarching conspiracy.

In its revision plea before the High Court, the CBI alleged that the excise policy introduced by the then AAP-led Delhi government was manipulated to favour select liquor traders in exchange for kickbacks.

The matter came before Justice Jain after it was reassigned from the Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, as criminal contempt proceedings were initiated against several AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, over the alleged circulation of “vilifying and defamatory” material targeting the judiciary in connection with the excise policy case.

On August 4, the High Court adjourned the hearing in the suo motu criminal contempt proceedings initiated against Kejriwal, Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and other party leaders over alleged attempts to scandalise the judiciary in connection with the excise policy case until September 21.

A Division Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja directed the registry to supply, in digital form, the material forming the basis of the contempt reference to the respondents after senior counsel appearing for Kejriwal and other AAP leaders submitted that they had not received the relevant documents.

The Justice Chawla-led Bench also granted the proposed contemnors four weeks to file their replies in the criminal contempt proceedings. The matter is listed for further hearing on September 21.

–IANS

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