New Delhi, March 15: Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister, has approached the Supreme Court regarding the Delhi liquor scam case. He is seeking a transfer of the case from the bench of Justice Swarnkant Sharma of the Delhi High Court, which is currently hearing an appeal by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that a fair hearing is not possible if the same judge continues to preside over the case. Previously, he had also written to Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay of the Delhi High Court requesting a change of bench, which was denied. The hearing on this matter is scheduled for Monday before Justice Swarnkant Sharma’s bench.
This case is linked to the CBI’s appeal challenging a trial court’s decision that acquitted all 23 accused, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Recently, Justice Swarnkant Sharma’s bench issued notices to Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others regarding the CBI’s petition.
Kejriwal is also contesting a March 9 order from the Delhi High Court, which restrained comments made by the CBI’s investigating officer without hearing his side. It is expected that Kejriwal will request an expedited hearing before the bench led by the Chief Justice on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a petition seeking to remove comments made by the trial court that were unfavorable to it. The ED argues that it was not a party to the case when the trial court made its decision and did not have the opportunity to present its case. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the government, stated in court that the trial court’s comments could impact the ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The High Court has indicated that it will consider the ED’s complaint at the same time as the CBI’s petition, as the entire trial court decision has been challenged in the High Court. The CBI contends that the trial court’s decision was erroneous and that the accused were acquitted without a proper trial. According to the investigation agency, changes were allegedly made to the excise policy to benefit certain private liquor companies in exchange for bribes.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
