New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other accused four weeks to file their replies to the CBI’s challenge against their discharge in the alleged excise policy corruption case.

Justice Manoj Jain termed it the last opportunity to file the replies and listed the matter for hearing on October 5 and 6. The court said arguments would be heard together on those dates and no further adjournments would be granted.

CBI challenges discharge of Kejriwal, Sisodia

The CBI has approached the High Court challenging the trial court’s decision to discharge Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused in the corruption case linked to Delhi’s now-scrapped excise policy.

The trial court, in its judgment delivered on February 27, discharged all accused in the CBI corruption case. The judgment, running into more than 1,100 paragraphs, held that the excise policy was the result of a consultative and deliberative process and that the prosecution had failed to establish an overarching conspiracy.

The CBI has challenged the decision before the High Court, alleging that the policy was manipulated to favour certain liquor traders in exchange for kickbacks.

Court refuses further adjournment

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, opposed the request for additional time by the AAP leaders to file their responses.

Sisodia, in his plea, argued that the CBI had filed its challenge within hours of the trial court’s verdict and alleged that the petition did not clearly specify which evidence had allegedly been ignored against which accused.

The High Court has now given the accused four weeks to submit their replies, making it clear that no further adjournment would be granted.

Case shifted after contempt proceedings

The matter came before Justice Manoj Jain after it was reassigned from the bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma.

The reassignment came amid separate criminal contempt proceedings against several AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, over allegations concerning the circulation of material targeting the judiciary in connection with the excise policy case.

The contempt proceedings are being heard separately, with the next hearing scheduled for September 21.

What happens next?

The Delhi High Court will hear the CBI’s challenge to the discharge of Kejriwal, Sisodia and the other accused on October 5 and 6 after their replies are filed.

The High Court’s decision will determine whether the CBI’s corruption case can proceed despite the trial court’s earlier discharge order.