The former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who is a senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and has also chosen to withdraw from further participation in the excise policy case proceedings before Delhi High Court today.
In a letter addressed to Justice Swarna Kant Sharma, Sisodia stated that his concerns regarding the judge’s impartiality remain unresolved. He pointed to her repeated attendance at events organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, her children’s professional association with a Central government panel, and their perceived proximity to government law officers appearing in the case as reasons for his unease.
His decision follows a similar move by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who has also opted to boycott proceedings before the same judge in the matter.
Earlier, Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused had sought Justice Sharma’s recusal. However, on April 20, she rejected the plea, observing that politicians cannot be permitted to undermine public confidence in the judiciary and that such applications effectively place the institution itself on trial.
Responding to this order, Sisodia clarified that his objection was not to the judge’s children practising law or serving as government counsel through a fair and transparent process. Instead, he questioned whether there was a duty to disclose the circumstances surrounding their engagement with the Central government at the outset of the proceedings. He also raised concerns about whether the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, should have placed these facts before the Court in the interest of fairness.
Sisodia emphasised that his apprehension stems from concerns about the appearance of impartial justice rather than any hostility towards the Court. He stated that continuing to participate in the proceedings despite such doubts would go against his conscience, ultimately concluding that he could not, in good faith, remain part of the case.
The excise policy case dates back to 2022, when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR alleging irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22. The agency claimed that the policy was manipulated to enable cartelisation in the liquor trade and that AAP leaders received kickbacks. The Enforcement Directorate subsequently initiated proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The investigation led to multiple arrests of opposition leaders, with critics alleging political motivation. Authorities have claimed that a criminal conspiracy involving AAP leaders, including Sisodia and Kejriwal, was devised during the policy’s formulation, with deliberate loopholes created to favour certain licensees.
On February 27 this year, a trial court discharged Kejriwal and 22 others in the case. The CBI challenged this decision before the Delhi High Court, where the matter is currently being heard by Justice Sharma.
On March 9, the Court issued notice, stayed directions for departmental action against the investigating officer, and observed prima facie errors in the trial court’s findings. It also directed that related PMLA proceedings be deferred.
Subsequently, Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused, including Durgesh Pathak, Vijay Nair, Arun Pillai and Chanpreet Singh Rayat, filed applications seeking Justice Sharma’s recusal. After the plea was rejected, both Kejriwal and Sisodia decided to boycott the proceedings.
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