Politics – Delhi High Court Awaits Counsels in Excise Policy Case Hearing
Politics – The Delhi High Court on Friday stated that it is in the process of finalising senior legal representatives for Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Durgesh Pathak in connection with the excise policy case. The matter is expected to move forward next week after the appointment process is completed.
Court Waiting for Senior Advocates’ Consent
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma informed the court that consent from senior advocates proposed to represent the three AAP leaders is still pending. The court indicated that formal appointments are likely to be confirmed on Monday, while detailed arguments in the matter are expected to begin on Tuesday.
During the hearing, Justice Sharma observed that the three leaders currently remain unrepresented in the proceedings. The court had earlier indicated that senior counsels could be appointed as amici curiae to ensure that legal proceedings continue smoothly despite the absence of representation from the accused leaders.
The development came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), raised concerns regarding the continuation of proceedings without legal representation for the three politicians.
AAP Leaders Continue Boycott of Proceedings
Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Durgesh Pathak have continued to stay away from the hearings after seeking the recusal of Justice Sharma from the case. Their plea requesting the judge to step aside was dismissed earlier by the High Court.
Following the rejection of their request, the leaders informed the court through written communication that they would neither appear personally nor engage legal counsel before the bench. In their statement, they said they intended to follow the principles of “Satyagraha” associated with Mahatma Gandhi as part of their protest against the proceedings.
The legal dispute relates to the Delhi excise policy matter, which has remained under investigation by central agencies for several months and has led to multiple court proceedings involving senior AAP leaders and government officials.
Trial Court Earlier Discharged Several Accused
Earlier this year, on February 27, a trial court discharged Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and 21 other individuals in the liquor policy-related case. The order had provided temporary relief to the accused persons in the matter.
However, the CBI later challenged aspects of the proceedings before the Delhi High Court. On March 9, Justice Sharma stayed the trial court’s recommendation that departmental action be initiated against the investigating officer associated with the case.
The High Court is now expected to continue hearing the revision plea filed by the CBI after the appointment of legal representatives for the unrepresented parties.
Delhi High Court Also Examines Deepfake Misuse Complaint
In another important development on Friday, the Delhi High Court said it would issue an order to safeguard Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s personality rights after allegations that artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos were being circulated using his identity.
According to submissions made before the court, fake videos allegedly showed Tharoor making remarks in support of Pakistan. The Congress leader argued that his name, voice, and likeness had been manipulated using AI technology without consent.
The court acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and indicated that legal protection against unauthorised digital misuse of public personalities may be necessary as concerns around AI-generated misinformation continue to grow.