Arvind Kejriwal Cannot Intimidate Me: Delhi High Court Judge Launches Contempt Proceedings Over Vilifying Posts in Excise Policy Case
New Delhi, May 14, 2026 | In a sharp assertion of judicial authority, Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Thursday initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against certain respondents and other individuals in the high-profile Delhi excise policy case. The move follows the circulation of what the judge described as “extremely vilifying, extremely contemptuous, and defamatory material” targeting her and the court on social media.
Justice Sharma made the announcement while hearing the CBI’s revision petition challenging the February 2025 trial court order that had discharged AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others. She was set to name amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter after the accused boycotted proceedings.
Judge’s Stern Warning: I Cannot Stay Silent
Addressing the courtroom directly, Justice Sharma stated “It has come to my notice that extremely vilifying, extremely contemptuous, and defamatory material is being posted by some of the respondents against me and against this court and I cannot stay silent. I have decided to draw contempt proceedings against some of the respondents and some other contemnors.”
She added that a detailed order on the contempt action would be pronounced at 5 PM on the same day. The remarks came amid growing tension after Kejriwal and other accused chose to boycott hearings before her bench following the rejection of their recusal plea in April. Legal observers view the contempt initiation as a direct response to what the court perceives as an orchestrated campaign to pressure or discredit the judge.
The Escalating Drama: From Recusal Plea to Full Boycott
The excise policy case revolves around allegations of irregularities and kickbacks in the Delhi government’s 2021-22 liquor policy. A trial court had given a clean chit to all 23 accused in February 2025, prompting the CBI to file a revision petition before the High Court.
In April, Kejriwal appeared in person and sought Justice Sharma’s recusal, citing alleged bias. The judge rejected the plea, observing that mere unfounded apprehensions could not force a judge to step aside. Shortly after, Kejriwal wrote a letter to the court declaring he would neither appear personally nor through counsel, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of satyagraha and claiming “his hope of getting justice” had been shattered. Manish Sisodia and others followed suit with similar boycotts.
With the accused opting out, the court had planned to appoint senior advocates as amicus curiae to ensure fair representation. Instead, Thursday’s hearing took an unexpected turn when Justice Sharma prioritised the issue of defamatory online content.
No immediate reaction from Kejriwal or the AAP was available as of the latest updates. The contempt proceedings are now live alongside the main revision petition, marking a significant escalation in the long-running legal battle.
What happens next remains to be seen. The detailed contempt order at 5 PM is expected to name the specific contemnors and outline the next steps in this high-stakes confrontation between the judiciary and the accused.
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