Arvind Kejriwal approaches SC to Transfer Excise Policy Case from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma

March 16, 2026

Former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has filed a petition in the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution, contesting the Delhi High Court’s decision to reject his request for transferring the ongoing excise policy-related proceedings away from the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

The move follows the Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya‘s refusal (communicated around March 13, 2025) to administratively reassign the case.

The Chief Justice stated that the matter had been roster-assigned to Justice Sharma per the court’s existing roster system, and no grounds existed for an administrative transfer. Any recusal request would need to be addressed by the judge concerned.Kejriwal’s plea also challenges Justice Sharma’s March 9, 2025 interim order, which stayed the trial court’s February 27, 2025 discharge of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and 22 others in the CBI case, while issuing notice and deferring related PMLA proceedings (despite the ED not being a party in that specific revision petition).

He has reportedly filed a related Special Leave Petition against this order.Key grounds cited in Kejriwal’s Supreme Court petition and earlier representation include:

A “grave, bona fide and reasonable apprehension” of lack of impartiality and neutrality.
The March 9 interim stay being granted ex parte without detailed reasons or hearing the discharged accused, described as an “extraordinary” step.
Perceived predisposition due to the rapid/expedited listing and pace of proceedings.
Justice Sharma’s prior involvement in connected excise policy matters (some bail denials or observations later set aside or criticised by the Supreme Court).

The underlying case stems from the CBI’s revision petition against the trial court’s discharge order in the Delhi excise policy scam allegations. The matter remains pending before Justice Sharma in the Delhi High Court.Reports indicate the Supreme Court may consider the plea as early as March 16, 2026.

This development comes amid ongoing legal battles in the multi-agency (CBI, ED) excise policy probe, where several AAP leaders have faced arrests, bail proceedings, and now this discharge/stay dispute.