New Delhi, May 22 (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has issued contempt notices to Gopal Rai and journalist Saurav Das over allegations relating to targeting Justice Swarnkanta Sharma in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. A notice had already been issued earlier to Arvind Kejriwal.

A bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla observed that the court had already taken cognisance of the matter and therefore multiple petitions on the same issue could not be entertained. The bench stated that notices were being issued only to those respondents who were not parties in the earlier petition. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for August 4.

During the hearing, advocate Ashok Chaitanya informed the court that he had also sought permission to initiate contempt proceedings against journalist Shyam Meera Singh, but the request had been rejected. He stated that a separate petition would be filed in relation to Shyam Meera Singh.

The court noted that a single-judge bench had earlier initiated contempt proceedings against respondents including Arvind Kejriwal and Saurabh Bharadwaj. “Notices have already been issued to them. We are now issuing notices to the other respondents in the matter, namely Gopal Rai and journalist Saurav Das,” the bench observed.

The court further stated that an *amicus curiae* had already been appointed in the case and directed that a copy of the petition be supplied to the *amicus* as well.

Advocate Ashok Chaitanya also requested the court to preserve the allegedly contemptuous content, following which the court directed the registry to ensure preservation of the material.

The petition was filed by advocate Ashok Chaitanya. Earlier, the petitioner had sought consent from Additional Solicitor General Sanjeev Bhandari to initiate contempt proceedings. ASG Sanjeev Bhandari subsequently granted permission to proceed against Kejriwal and other accused persons, following which the petition was filed before the High Court.

It is noteworthy that Justice Swarnkanta Sharma had earlier initiated contempt proceedings suo motu against six accused persons, including Arvind Kejriwal. While hearing the contempt matter, the bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla had issued notices on May 19 to Kejriwal and the six accused individuals.

In the fresh contempt petition, apart from Aam Aadmi Party leaders, journalist Saurav Das has also been named as a respondent.

While initiating contempt proceedings on May 14, Justice Swarnkanta Sharma had observed that failure to act against such conduct could lead to “anarchy.” The judge remarked that when an institution itself is put on trial, it becomes the duty of the judiciary not to be influenced by such allegations.

The court had further observed that a social media campaign was allegedly carried out through letters and videos which were widely circulated, describing it as a “planned and organised campaign.” Justice Sharma had stated that a parallel narrative was being created outside the courtroom regarding proceedings taking place inside the court.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar