Delhi HC Starts Contempt Proceedings Against Kejriwal Over Social Media Posts
Delhi HC Starts Contempt Proceedings Against Kejriwal Over Social Media Posts
Delhi High Court initiates contempt actions against Arvind Kejriwal and AAP leaders over social media posts, reassigning the excise policy case to a new bench.
Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Thursday announced contempt proceedings against Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other AAP leaders over allegedly defamatory social media posts targeting her. She said she would not hear the CBI’s appeal against the trial court’s discharge of Kejriwal and 22 others in the excise policy case, and that the matter would be assigned to a different bench. The judge noted that, under law, the judge who initiates contempt proceedings cannot continue hearing the main case, so the matter will be heard by another bench and the contempt actions will proceed.
Justice Sharma described the social media response as an orchestrated vilification campaign that questioned the court’s integrity. After delivering her order on the recusal, Kejriwal posted a letter on X announcing his decision to boycott court proceedings, and several AAP spokespersons and office-bearers shared the letter and a video. She said the tone, tenor and manner were not fair criticism and that the campaigns aimed to undermine the authority of the court, an “attempt to lower the authority of this court.”
These developments come as the excise policy case unfolds, with Kejriwal and 22 others facing allegations related to Delhi’s liquor policy and the CBI’s proceedings. The contempt motion adds a new layer to a politically charged legal fight that has kept the public’s attention and underscored ongoing tensions between political leadership and judicial institutions.
With the bench redirected to hear the main appeal, observers will watch closely how the new panel handles both the appeal and the contempt actions, and how due process is maintained for all parties involved.
