New Delhi, March 16
The Delhi High Court has given former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others time until 6 April to respond to a CBI petition challenging their discharge in the Delhi excise policy case.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday listed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s plea for hearing on 6 April, after the agency challenged a trial court order that had discharged the accused in the case.
Appearing for the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the trial court’s order was “perverse” and should not remain on record “even for a second more than necessary”. He urged the court not to grant the accused more than a week to file their responses, saying a reply was unnecessary as the full trial court record was already available.
Lawyers for Mr Kejriwal told the court they had already moved the Supreme Court against the matter. However, the High Court said proceedings would continue unless there was a stay order from the apex court.
“I have not received any stay yet. Till the court gets an order staying the proceedings, the case has to proceed,” the judge observed.
Senior lawyers appearing for the accused opposed the CBI’s request for urgency, saying there was no immediate need for an expedited hearing and that they should be given reasonable time to file their replies.
The development comes after a trial court on 27 February discharged Mr Kejriwal, Mr Sisodia and 21 others in the alleged liquor policy case, sharply criticising the CBI’s investigation.
In its order, the trial court said the agency’s case could not withstand judicial scrutiny and had been “discredited in its entirety”. It said the alleged conspiracy appeared to be based on conjecture and speculation, with no legally admissible evidence to justify putting the accused through a full criminal trial.
PTI
