[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/excise-policy-case\/#NewsArticle","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/excise-policy-case\/","headline":"Excise Policy Case: Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma Recuses Herself After Contempt Action Against Kejriwal and AAP Leaders","name":"Excise Policy Case: Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma Recuses Herself After Contempt Action Against Kejriwal and AAP Leaders","description":"A major development has emerged in the ongoing excise policy case linked to senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Thursday recused herself from hearing the matter after initiating criminal contempt proceedings against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several other AAP leaders over […]","datePublished":"2026-05-14","dateModified":"2026-05-14","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/author\/abhikk102004\/#Person","name":"ABHI KK","url":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/author\/abhikk102004\/","identifier":1,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/aaf62ce68d0959418e43c997fb078e5b.jpg?ver=1779353619","url":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/litespeed\/avatar\/aaf62ce68d0959418e43c997fb078e5b.jpg?ver=1779353619","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"up24Hindi","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cropped-up24hindi-e1778741598181.png","url":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/cropped-up24hindi-e1778741598181.png","width":1020,"height":265}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Excise-Policy-Case.jpg","url":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Excise-Policy-Case.jpg","height":1024,"width":1536},"url":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/excise-policy-case\/","about":["Bharat News"],"wordCount":1440,"keywords":["AAP Leaders","Excise Policy Case","Justice Sharma"],"articleBody":"A major development has emerged in the ongoing excise policy case linked to senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party. Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Thursday recused herself from hearing the matter after initiating criminal contempt proceedings against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several other AAP leaders over remarks and social media posts allegedly directed at the judge and the court.The decision has intensified the already politically charged atmosphere surrounding the excise policy investigation, which has remained one of the most high-profile legal and political battles in the country over the last few years.Why Justice Sharma Stepped AsideWhile announcing her decision to recuse herself, Justice Sharma explained that continuing to hear the excise policy matter after launching contempt proceedings could create an impression of personal bias.According to courtroom observations, the judge stated that if she continued hearing the case, the parties involved could later claim she held a \u201cpersonal grudge\u201d against them. To avoid any apprehension regarding fairness and judicial neutrality, she decided the matter should be transferred to another bench.Justice Sharma clarified that her decision should not be interpreted as a retreat from her earlier judicial observations. She firmly defended her previous order rejecting the recusal pleas filed by AAP leaders and stated that she \u201cwould not change a single word\u201d of that judgment.The judge also reportedly said that she had \u201cstood up for the institution and for herself,\u201d indicating that the controversy had crossed legal boundaries and become personal in nature.Under legal procedure, once contempt proceedings are initiated by a judge, continuing to hear the main matter may create procedural and ethical complications. Citing judicial discipline, Justice Sharma said the case would now be placed before the Chief Justice for reassignment to another bench.Contempt Proceedings Against Kejriwal and Other AAP LeadersJustice Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings not only against Arvind Kejriwal but also against several senior AAP figures. These include:Manish SisodiaSanjay SinghSaurabh BharadwajDurgesh PathakVinay MishraThe contempt proceedings stem from statements, allegations, and social media commentary made by the leaders concerning Justice Sharma and her role in the excise policy-related hearings. According to reports, the judge believed that attempts were made to undermine the dignity and authority of the court through public commentary rather than through established legal remedies.Justice Sharma reportedly observed that criticism of judicial orders is permissible within legal frameworks, but deliberate attempts to lower the authority of the court cannot be protected merely under the banner of free speech.The Conflict of Interest AllegationThe controversy escalated after Arvind Kejriwal alleged a possible conflict of interest involving Justice Sharma. The AAP chief claimed that the judge\u2019s children were serving as panel counsels for the Central government.Based on this allegation, Kejriwal and other AAP leaders sought Justice Sharma\u2019s recusal from the excise policy matter.However, the judge rejected those pleas and maintained that there was no legal basis requiring her withdrawal from the case at that stage. During the hearing, Justice Sharma reportedly said that the issue had gone beyond courtroom arguments and had expanded into attacks on her personal reputation and even her family through social media campaigns.This observation became a central factor in the initiation of contempt proceedings.Tushar Mehta\u2019s InterventionDuring the hearing, Tushar Mehta defended the judiciary and strongly criticised what he described as \u201cnarrative-building exercises\u201d against judges. Mehta pointed out that many young lawyers associated with government legal offices are children of judges, and such circumstances alone cannot automatically imply bias or conflict of interest.At the same time, he noted that he personally avoids appearing in matters where such conflicts might reasonably arise, emphasising the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judiciary. The Solicitor General also suggested that formal standard operating procedures or guidelines should be framed to handle similar situations in the future. According to him, such mechanisms would help reduce confusion and prevent unnecessary controversies involving judicial recusal demands.Interestingly, Mehta reportedly requested Justice Sharma to continue hearing the matter despite the ongoing controversy. However, the judge declined and reiterated that judicial discipline required the case to be reassigned.Kejriwal\u2019s ReactionSoon after the recusal decision became public, Arvind Kejriwal responded through social media. The former Delhi Chief Minister wrote:\u201cSatya ki jeet hui hai, Gandhiji ke Satyagraha ki phir ek baar jeet hui hai.\u201dThe message suggested that Kejriwal viewed the judge\u2019s decision to step aside as a moral and political victory for his side. The statement quickly drew reactions from supporters and critics alike. AAP supporters described the development as proof that their concerns had validity, while opposition leaders accused Kejriwal of trying to politicise judicial proceedings.The Larger Excise Policy CaseThe excise policy case itself remains one of the most politically sensitive corruption investigations in recent Indian politics. The matter relates to alleged irregularities in Delhi\u2019s 2021\u201322 liquor policy introduced during the AAP government\u2019s tenure. ye padeInvestigative agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, have alleged that irregularities occurred during the framing and implementation of the policy. According to the agencies, certain liquor traders and private entities allegedly received undue advantages under the policy framework. The allegations also include claims of kickbacks and financial misconduct.AAP leaders, however, have consistently denied all accusations and described the investigations as politically motivated. The party has repeatedly accused the Central government of misusing investigative agencies to target opposition leaders.Political Impact of the CaseThe excise policy controversy has had major political consequences over the past few years.Several senior AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, faced prolonged legal battles in connection with the case. The issue also became a central topic in national political debates regarding the use of central agencies against opposition parties. For AAP, the case has evolved beyond a legal dispute into a larger political narrative involving institutional independence, opposition rights, and alleged political targeting.For the BJP and other critics of AAP, the case represents a serious corruption investigation that must proceed without political interference. Justice Sharma\u2019s recusal has now added another dramatic layer to this already high-profile battle.Debate Around Judicial Independence and Free SpeechThe controversy has also triggered wider discussions about judicial independence, recusal standards, and the limits of public criticism against judges. In India, judicial recusal is generally guided by principles of fairness and impartiality rather than detailed codified laws. Judges may voluntarily step aside if there is a possibility that their participation could create reasonable apprehension of bias.At the same time, courts have repeatedly emphasised that litigants cannot use baseless allegations to pressure judges into recusing themselves. Legal experts say this case highlights the delicate balance between:protecting judicial dignity,preserving freedom of expression,and ensuring public trust in the justice system.The matter also raises questions about how social media campaigns and political narratives can influence public perception of ongoing judicial proceedings.Social Media and Courtroom PoliticsOne notable aspect of the controversy is the increasing role of social media in high-profile legal cases. Justice Sharma specifically referred to online attacks and commentary targeting not only her judicial orders but also her family members.Legal observers believe this reflects a growing trend where courtroom battles are increasingly accompanied by parallel political and digital campaigns. Supporters of political parties often attempt to shape public opinion through hashtags, viral posts, and online narratives while legal proceedings continue inside courtrooms.Critics argue that such campaigns risk undermining institutional trust and putting unnecessary pressure on judges. Supporters, however, claim that public criticism of powerful institutions is part of democratic accountability. The tension between these two positions is becoming more visible in politically sensitive cases across the country.Following Justice Sharma\u2019s recusal, the excise policy matter will now be placed before the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court for reassignment to another bench. The contempt proceedings against Kejriwal and the other AAP leaders are also expected to continue separately.Legal experts believe the next phase of the case could become even more closely watched because it now involves not just allegations of corruption but also questions regarding judicial conduct, political speech, and institutional authority. For the judiciary, the challenge will be maintaining public confidence while ensuring legal fairness.For AAP, the issue remains both a legal battle and a political campaign point. And for the broader political system, the case continues to represent the increasingly intense intersection of law, politics, media, and public perception in modern India. With emotions running high on all sides, the excise policy controversy appears far from over."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Excise Policy Case: Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma Recuses Herself After Contempt Action Against Kejriwal and AAP Leaders","item":"https:\/\/up24hindi.in\/excise-policy-case\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]