New Delhi, 06 April (H.S.):

The Delhi High Court will hear the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) challenge to the trial court's order discharging former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and 22 others in the Delhi excise scam case on April 13.

The court directed CBI to respond to the accused's plea seeking Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma's recusal from hearing the matter. Kejriwal, present in court Monday, stated he would argue personally—after Chief Justice DK Upadhyay rejected his and Manish Sisodia's earlier letter seeking the same.

On March 16, the court granted time for responses from all accused. Notices were issued March 9 after CBI appealed the discharge. The High Court had stayed trial court remarks criticizing CBI and barred further money laundering proceedings linked to the excise case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar