From the Editors Desk

Arvind Kejriwal has moved the Supreme Court with a writ petition after the Delhi High Court declined his request to have the CBI’s plea in the excise policy matter heard by a bench other than Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

In the petition filed on Monday, Kejriwal has challenged an order passed by the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court, which was issued on the directions of the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice refused the transfer request, stating that the matter had already been allocated to Justice Sharma under the existing roster and that there was no justification for placing it before another bench.

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On February 27, a trial court discharged all 23 accused in the case, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha. The court had also sharply criticised the CBI’s probe. The case had drawn major political attention after Kejriwal was arrested and taken into custody during the 2024 Lok Sabha election period. He was later granted bail by the Supreme Court after spending 156 days in custody, while AAP leader Sisodia remained in custody for 530 days.

The CBI’s revision plea against the trial court order came up before Justice Sharma, who on March 9 reportedly made a prima facie observation that the trial court’s remarks appeared to be erroneous.

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Kejriwal later approached the Chief Justice seeking a change of bench, arguing that no clear reasons had been recorded for the adverse comments on the trial court ruling. He also pointed out that Justice Sharma had previously denied bail to several accused in the excise policy case, only for the Supreme Court to later grant them relief. In his plea, he has sought transfer of the matter citing a "grave, bona fide, and reasonable apprehension that the matter may not receive a hearing marked by impartiality and neutrality".

Apart from the writ petition, Kejriwal has also filed a separate special leave petition challenging Justice Sharma’s observations on the trial court’s order.

Case Title: Arvind Kejriwal v. CBI,

Case No.: WP(Crl) Diary No. 15968/2026, SLP(Crl) Diary No. 15911/2026.