Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have asked the Delhi High Court to reject the CBI’s challenge against their discharge in the excise policy case. The leaders claim the agency acted with excessive haste in filing its petition, while the court prepares for hearings on August 17 and 18.
Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have officially moved the Delhi High Court to dismiss a revision petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency is challenging a February 27, 2026, trial court order that discharged the former Delhi Chief Minister and his former deputy, along with 21 others, in the high-profile liquor policy case.
The arguments presented by the defense focus on the procedural manner in which the CBI approached the High Court. Legal counsel for the AAP leaders argued that the agency filed its revision petition just four hours after the trial court delivered its discharge judgment. They characterized this action as being taken with "unprecedented haste" and in a "most unserious manner." According to the application, the CBI’s petition lacks specific grounds and failed to address the findings within the detailed 549-page discharge order, rendering it a "bare-shell" plea that makes it difficult for the defense to understand the agency's specific objections.
From a governance perspective, prolonged legal proceedings involving top political figures can sometimes create an environment of administrative uncertainty. Investors and businesses operating in the national capital often track such high-profile regulatory and legal developments, as they can influence the long-term stability of the policy environment and the execution of public projects.
The legal battle centers on whether the trial court acted within its authority. The CBI has previously maintained that the discharge order was "patently illegal" and argued that the trial court conducted a "mini-trial" instead of reviewing the evidence at a prima facie stage. The agency contends that the lower court selectively read the prosecution’s case and made unwarranted remarks against the investigating body, necessitating a revision of the order.
Conversely, the defense lawyers argue that the High Court’s revisional powers are restricted and should be exercised only in instances of grave perversity or legal error. They contend that the CBI is attempting to use the revision process to re-examine evidence, which they argue is not permissible under the current legal framework. The Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Manoj Jain, is scheduled to conduct hearings on the matter on August 17 and 18, 2026. The outcome of these hearings will be the next major monitorable, as it will determine whether the trial court’s discharge order stands or if the case against the leaders will be subject to further judicial scrutiny.