Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, and Aam Aadmi Party leader Durgesh Pathak have decided to participate in the ongoing proceedings related to the Delhi excise policy case, which is currently being heard by the Delhi High Court. The development comes after a change in bench following the recusal of the earlier presiding judge.

The matter is now listed before Justice Manoj Jain of the Delhi High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for July 16. The case had earlier been heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who opted out of the proceedings, prompting reassignment of the matter to a new bench for further consideration.

During the latest hearing, the court took note of the filing of vakalatnamas on behalf of the three AAP leaders, indicating their formal decision to participate in the proceedings after earlier phases where they were either unrepresented or had not actively engaged in the hearings. A vakalatnama is a legal document authorising an advocate to act on behalf of a client in court proceedings.

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Justice Manoj Jain observed that the procedural filings suggested the parties were now formally entering appearance in the matter. However, the court also noted that proceedings could not advance on the day due to lawyers abstaining from work in the High Court, necessitating a postponement of arguments and further scheduling.

The case pertains to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) revision petition challenging a February 27 trial court order that discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and several co-accused in the Delhi excise policy case. The trial court had ruled that the case lacked sufficient grounds to proceed and had criticised the evidentiary basis of the prosecution’s claims.

Subsequently, the CBI moved the High Court challenging the discharge order. Earlier, the High Court had also stayed certain observations made by the trial court and issued notices to all accused persons, stating that some of the findings required closer judicial scrutiny. The matter is now set for further hearing in July as procedural participation from all sides becomes formalised.

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