Delhi HC Stays Remarks Against CBI in Excise Case

The Delhi High Court on Monday intervened in the high-profile Delhi excise policy case, staying adverse remarks made by a trial court against the Central Bureau of Investigation while seeking responses from former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, and 21 other discharged accused. The court, presided over by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, scheduled a hearing on the Central Bureau of Investigation's revision petition for March 16 and directed the trial court to defer proceedings in the linked money laundering probe until the matter is resolved.

The developments stem from a February 27 order by a special court at Rouse Avenue, which discharged all 23 individuals accused in the corruption case tied to the now-scrapped 2021 excise policy of the Aam Aadmi Party government. The trial court ruled that the Central Bureau of Investigation's chargesheet lacked cogent evidence, contained significant gaps unsupported by witnesses or statements, and failed to withstand judicial scrutiny. It described the agency's case as "discredited in its entirety" and suggested a departmental inquiry into Central Bureau of Investigation officials for naming a public servant as the...