New Delhi, 18 May (H.S.): The Delhi High Court will tomorrow hear the contempt proceedings initiated against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and four other accused in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. The matter will be heard by a bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla.

Earlier, on May 14, a bench led by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had issued contempt notices to Arvind Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Durgesh Pathak.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma subsequently recused herself from hearing the matter and referred it to another bench. During the proceedings, Justice Sharma had observed that failure to act against the accused could lead to “anarchy.” She stated that when an institution is put on trial, it becomes the duty of a judge not to be influenced by such allegations.

Justice Sharma further remarked that the court had become aware of a social media campaign allegedly conducted through letters and videos, which had been widely circulated online. According to the court, the campaign appeared to be organised and systematic in nature. She observed that parallel narratives regarding courtroom proceedings were being created and propagated outside the court.

The judge stated that she had been trained to accept fair criticism and dissent. However, she noted that the social media campaign was not directed merely against an individual judge but had effectively placed the entire judiciary in the dock. She further observed that some of those propagating the narrative also possessed political influence and power. According to Justice Sharma, edited videos were circulated online in an attempt to target the judiciary.

Justice Sharma said that once she had delivered her order, the accused had the legal option of approaching the Supreme Court. Instead, she alleged, a campaign was launched against her through videos circulated on social media platforms.

She also remarked that her duty was towards the Constitution. Referring to the conduct of the accused, Justice Sharma stated that while Kejriwal had expressed respect for the court inside the courtroom, an alleged campaign against the judiciary was subsequently carried out outside the court.

It may be recalled that on April 20, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had rejected Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking her recusal from hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) petition challenging the trial court order acquitting him in the Delhi excise policy case.

Justice Sharma had then stated that she would deliver her judgment uninfluenced by any allegations, just as she had done throughout her 34-year judicial career.

Notably, the Delhi High Court’s Justice Manoj Jain is also scheduled to hear tomorrow the CBI’s petition challenging the trial court’s order acquitting Kejriwal and 23 other accused persons in the excise policy case.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar