Delhi High Court Defers CBI Plea Against Kejriwal’s Discharge in Excise Policy Case to July 16

May 25, 2026 : The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation’s plea challenging the discharge of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other accused in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam case till July 16.

The matter came up before Justice Manoj Jain after being transferred from the Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The transfer followed contempt proceedings initiated against several leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, including Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, over alleged remarks and social media posts concerning the judge.

Representing the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that affidavits of service had already been filed in respect of Kejriwal, Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak. The Court observed that fresh vakalatnamas had been submitted on behalf of the respondents after the reassignment of the case and directed the Registry to verify the records before the next hearing.

The CBI’s revision petition challenges the February 27 order of the Rouse Avenue Court, which discharged all 23 accused persons, including Kejriwal, Sisodia and K Kavitha, in the corruption case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22.

In its plea before the High Court, the investigating agency argued that the trial court failed to properly evaluate the evidence collected during the investigation and wrongly concluded that no prima facie case existed against the accused.

The Delhi excise policy case has remained one of the country’s most closely watched political and legal controversies, particularly after the arrests of several senior political leaders, including Kejriwal and Sisodia. Both leaders were later granted bail after spending extended periods in custody.

The High Court is scheduled to take up the matter again on July 16.