Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and senior party leader Manish Sisodia have moved the Supreme Court seeking a change of the judge hearing the CBI’s plea in the Delhi High Court against their discharge in the excise policy case, the party said in a statement on Sunday. The top court is likely to take up the matter on Monday, an insider said.
The move comes after the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, D.K. Upadhyaya, declined a request by Mr. Kejriwal, Mr. Sisodia, and others on March 11 to transfer the case from the court of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to an “impartial Bench”.
According to a PTI report, Chief Justice Upadhyaya said Justice Sharma was hearing the CBI’s petition against the trial court’s decision in accordance with the roster and there was “no reason to pass an order of transfer on the administrative side”.
The CBI’s petition is listed for hearing before Justice Sharma on Monday.
In his representation before the Chief Justice, Mr. Kejriwal claimed his apprehension was based on Justice Sharma’s past conduct.
