Delhi excise case: Citizens’ letter to CJI seeks contempt case against Kejriwal; AAP wants contempt case against CM Rekha Gupta
Kejriwal is expected to personally argue in the high court as to why he has moved a recusal application urging that judge Swarna Kanta Sharma -- whose bench has been assigned the matter -- not hear the case
High drama unfolded in Delhi ahead of the expected hearing in the high court on Monday on the CBI appeal against the lower court's order discharging AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and 21 others in the Delhi excise scam case.
Kejriwal is expected to personally argue in the high court as to why he has moved a recusal application urging that judge Swarna Kanta Sharma -- whose bench has been assigned the matter -- not hear the case.
Earlier today, a group of senior advocates, academics and ex-government officers wrote to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant to take cognisance of Kejriwal's recusal application seeking a change of bench hearing the CBI appeal and initiate contempt proceedings against him.
These signatories, including Supreme Court advocate Monika Arora, said Kejriwal, by publicly demanding the recusal of Delhi High Court judge Swarna Kanta Sharma from hearing the matter, humiliated and embarrassed her.
"This is wrong. Many people who have signed the letter include former and present vice-chancellors, IPS officers, lawyers, senior advocates, bar members, the High Court Bar Association’s former president and secretary. We have said Arvind Kejriwal is setting a wrong precedent. This undermines the dignity of the judiciary. Judicial officers should be allowed to work without any political pressure, without any pressure tactics. This amounts to forum shopping and bench hunting. This should be discouraged, and this is criminal contempt of court because you are attributing motives to the judge. So we have requested the Chief Justice of India to suo motu initiate criminal contempt proceedings against this person (Kejriwal)," Arora said.
Moments after Arora's call, AAP's Delhi in-charge Saurabh Bharadwaj issued a video statement demanding contempt proceedings against Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
Bharadwaj said, "CM Gupta in an open TV forum had said that the lower court had discharged Arvind Kejriwal and others in the matter after settling with AAP. She should either present evidence to back her claim or the CJI should initiate contempt proceedings against the CM who made the remarks publicly and suggested that the judge of the special CBI court who discharged our leaders in the case recently is corrupt."
Bharadwaj also reminded the Supreme Court of the suo motu cognizance it took of an NCERT chapter alleging corruption in judiciary.
"The CJI took cognizance of a written chapter insinuating corruption in judiciary and here the CM of Delhi has publicly made her remarks saying a particular judge settled the case with AAP. So this is a fit case for initiation of contempt proceedings," the AAP leader said, sharing the video of the CM on X.
