Excise case: HC grants time to Kejriwal, Sisodia to respond to CBI's plea against discharge; next hearing on April 6

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday granted time to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and 21 others to respond to the CBI's petition challenging their discharge in the liquor policy case.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma listed the CBI's petition assailing the trial court's decision for hearing on April 6.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the agency, said the trial court's "perverse" order "cannot remain on record even for a second more than necessary" and that Kejriwal and others should not be given more than a week's time to file their response.

Reply is not necessary when the entire record of the trial court was available, he said.

Senior counsel appearing for the AAP leader informed that they have already approached the Supreme Court challenging the matter.

"I have not received any stay yet.. till the court gets an order staying the proceedings, the case has to proceed," the court observed.

The senior lawyers appearing for the accused persons said there was no urgency and they should be given a reasonable time to file their replies.

On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and 21 others, pulling up the CBI by saying its case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entirety.

The trial court ruled that the alleged conspiracy was nothing more than a speculative construct resting on conjecture and surmise, devoid of any admissible evidence, and therefore, to compel the accused to face the rigours of a full-fledged criminal trial in the stark absence of any legally admissible material did not serve the ends of justice.