Justice Sharma Initiates Contempt Action Against Kejriwal, Recuses from Excise Policy Case

New Delhi: Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on May 14, 2026 initiated contempt of court proceedings against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh, Vinay Mishra, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, for allegedly posting defamatory and vilifying content against her on social media in connection with the excise policy case. Following the initiation of contempt proceedings, the judge recused herself from further hearing the CBI’s revision petition challenging the discharge of all accused persons in the Delhi excise policy case, given that Kejriwal and Sisodia are accused in the matter.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice Sharma addressed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, stating: “Mr. Mehta, today I was to announce names of amicus. I had made efforts, some seniors also accepted. But in the meantime, it has come to my notice that extremely defamatory and vilifying content is posted against me by some respondents… I have decided to take contempt action against some respondents and contemnors… I cannot stay silent.” The Court indicated that a detailed order would be passed later in the day.

The matter arises from the trial court’s order dated February 27, 2026, discharging all 23 accused persons in the Delhi excise policy case, including Kejriwal, Sisodia, and K. Kavitha. The trial court had also severely criticised the CBI’s investigation. The CBI thereafter filed a revision petition before the Delhi High Court challenging the discharge order.

Justice Sharma, who was assigned the CBI’s revision petition, had on March 9, 2026, made a prima facie observation that the trial court’s reasoning was erroneous. Thereafter, Kejriwal and certain other accused persons, including Sisodia, filed applications seeking her recusal on grounds of apprehension of bias. Last week, Justice Sharma dismissed the recusal applications and decided to continue hearing the matter herself.

Following the dismissal of the recusal applications, Kejriwal and Sisodia wrote to Justice Sharma stating that they were boycotting the proceedings before her and would not appear either in person or through counsel. The Court had accordingly been in the process of appointing three senior advocates as amici curiae to represent Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Durgesh Pathak in the proceedings.

It was in this backdrop that defamatory and vilifying content concerning Justice Sharma was allegedly posted online by some of the respondents, prompting her to announce the initiation of contempt proceedings. In light of the initiation of contempt proceedings against Kejriwal and Sisodia, who are also accused in the excise policy case, Justice Sharma recused herself from further hearing the CBI’s revision petition to avoid any conflict of interest.

The excise policy case became politically contentious following the arrest of Kejriwal, who was taken into custody during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and spent 156 days in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court. AAP leader Manish Sisodia spent 530 days in custody in connection with the case. The trial court’s discharge of all 23 accused persons in February 2026 marked a significant development in the proceedings.

Case Details: CBI v. Kuldeep Singh & Ors. (Delhi Excise Policy Case), Delhi High Court. Before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. Hearing dated May 14, 2026. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the CBI.