New Delhi, 15 March (H.S.): Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya has dismissed former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's request to transfer petitions by the CBI and ED challenging his acquittal in the Delhi excise policy scam from Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma's bench to another court.

The Chief Justice emphasized adherence to the current roster, stating the case remains listed before Justice Sharma's bench for hearing on March 16; any recusal must come from her, not administrative reallocation.

Kejriwal's March 11 letter cited fears of biased proceedings, alleging Justice Sharma issued orders on March 9 without hearing his side, stayed the trial court's acquittal without justifying extraordinary circumstances, and improperly linked CBI and ED matters despite the latter's absence as a party.

On March 9, Justice Sharma's bench issued notices to Kejriwal and 22 others, stayed adverse CBI remarks by the Rouse Avenue trial court—which acquitted all on February 27 citing charge sheet contradictions and witness mismatches—and barred further PMLA proceedings tied to the CBI FIR.

The trial court had noted Manish Sisodia's 530-day incarceration and Kejriwal's 156 days in jail amid evidentiary gaps. All six accused face ongoing probes post-court appearance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar