The political and legal conflict regarding the alleged liquor policy scam in Delhi High Court has now come to the fore. During the hearing on Tuesday (05 May), Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma clearly indicated that the court will not let the case stop, even if the accused leaders boycott the proceedings. The court said that it will appoint three senior lawyers as amicus curiae (friends of the justice), who will represent Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak.
Amicus curiae will be appointed for Kejriwal and Sisodia
This entire controversy intensified when these leaders recused themselves from the hearing, fearing bias against the judge. However, the court rejected this demand and clearly said that the judicial process will not be stopped by anyone’s boycott. Justice Sharma said that first the Amicus Curiae will be appointed and only then the further hearing will begin.
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Lower court had acquitted all 23 accused
On February 27, the Rouse Avenue Court had given relief to all the 23 accused and discharged them from the case and raised questions on the investigation. CBI has reached the High Court challenging this decision. This controversy had arisen regarding the excise policy of Delhi government for 2021-22. It is alleged that private companies were given unfair benefits through this policy. However, Aam Aadmi Party has been continuously rejecting these allegations.
While making allegations, Arvind Kejriwal had expressed fear of conflict of interest and bias against the judge. Last week, former CMs Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia had written a letter to Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma saying that they would not appear before him personally or through a lawyer, and instead they would follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha.