New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Thursday said it would initiate contempt proceedings after “extremely vilifying and defamatory” material was allegedly circulated against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in connection with the hearing of the excise policy case involving AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others.

A single-judge Bench of Justice Sharma made the remarks while hearing a petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging a trial court order discharging all 23 accused in the case, including former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal, ex-Deputy CM Sisodia and AAP leader Durgesh Pathak.

“Today I was to announce the amicus curiae… some seniors had graciously accepted. However, some respondents have posted extremely vilifying and defamatory material against me. I cannot stay silent,” Justice Sharma said in open court.

The judge said contempt action would be contemplated against certain accused persons as well as others allegedly involved in circulating the contemptuous material on social media.

“I am going to take contempt action. I will pass a detailed order at 5 P.M.,” Justice Sharma observed.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had indicated that it would appoint senior advocates as amici curiae to represent Kejriwal, Sisodia and Pathak after they chose to abstain from participating in the proceedings following the rejection of their recusal plea.

Last week, the Delhi High Court had adjourned the matter after observing that it was awaiting consent from certain senior advocates proposed to be appointed as amici curiae for the three AAP leaders.

The decision of the AAP leaders to abstain from the proceedings came after Justice Sharma rejected applications seeking her recusal from hearing the case.

The trial court, in a detailed judgment running into more than 1,100 paragraphs, had discharged all accused persons, holding that the record suggested that the now-scrapped excise policy was the outcome of a consultative and deliberative process and rejecting the prosecution’s allegation of an overarching conspiracy.

In its revision petition before the Delhi High Court, the CBI has alleged that the excise policy introduced by the then Delhi government was manipulated to favour of select liquor traders in exchange for kickbacks.

On March 9, Justice Sharma issued notice to the respondents on the CBI’s plea challenging the Rouse Avenue Court’s discharge order.

The Delhi High Court had also stayed the trial court’s direction for departmental action against a CBI officer, along with adverse remarks made against the investigating agency.

–IANS

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