Kejriwal Declines to Appear Before Delhi High Court in Liquor Policy Case

Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), announced on Monday that he will not present himself, nor will he be represented by a lawyer, in the ongoing proceedings at the Delhi High Court overseen by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. This case arises from a challenge put forth by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the recent discharge of Kejriwal and several others implicated in the controversial Delhi liquor policy case.

In a letter addressed to Justice Sharma, Kejriwal expressed his decision to abstain from appearing, while also indicating his intention to preserve his right to appeal any forthcoming verdict in the Supreme Court. His comments come on the heels of a previous ruling by the same judge, which rejected Kejriwal’s plea for her to recuse herself from the case. This decision was made during a hearing last week.

Kejriwal’s objections to Justice Sharma’s involvement stemmed from what he described as a “perceived ideological proximity” between her and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Citing Justice Sharma’s attendance at an event linked to the RSS, Kejriwal raised concerns that her associations could bias her judgment. He further argued that she had consistently issued orders favoring the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) throughout the proceedings related to the liquor policy.

In light of these concerns, Kejriwal had submitted a fresh affidavit to the court on April 14, formally seeking Justice Sharma’s recusal. In this affidavit, he pointed out that the judge’s children had been empanelled as counsels by the Union government, which he believed might further complicate her impartiality in the case.

The developments in this case are garnering significant attention, as they not only involve high-profile political figures but also reflect broader tensions within Delhi’s political landscape, particularly surrounding the contentious liquor policy. As the CBI continues to pursue its allegations, the political implications of this case could be far-reaching for all parties involved, especially for Kejriwal and the AAP as they prepare for future electoral battles.

Source: scroll.in