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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta sharply criticised Aam Aadmi Party leader and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of repeatedly casting doubt on democratic institutions whenever their actions do not favour him. Her remarks came a day after Kejriwal personally appeared before the Delhi High Court and argued for Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to step aside from hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s appeal in the Delhi excise policy case.
Addressing a gathering, Gupta alleged that Kejriwal has a habit of placing anyone who questions him in the “witness box,” whether it involves investigative agencies, constitutional authorities, or the judiciary. Her comments were aimed at Kejriwal’s recent courtroom submissions in which he raised concerns about the neutrality of the judge hearing the matter.
Taking a dig at the former chief minister’s decision to argue the matter himself, Gupta remarked in Hindi that “these days Mr Kejriwal has become a lawyer.” She also questioned why the AAP leader had begun targeting the judiciary despite earlier celebrating judicial rulings that went in his favour.
Gupta Questions Kejriwal’s Stand on Institutions
Gupta said, “Kejriwal has repeatedly shown a lack of respect for institutions such as the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Enforcement Directorate, the Election Commission of India, the Prime Minister, the Lieutenant Governor, and the judiciary.” According to her, he praises institutions when their decisions benefit him but criticises them when they do not.
She asked what had prompted Kejriwal to raise questions about the judiciary at this stage. Gupta said, “When judgments previously favoured him, he embraced them proudly and portrayed himself as beyond criticism. Now, he is questioning the credibility of the same system.”
Calling him “a culprit of the public,” Gupta said citizens across Delhi and the country were closely observing his conduct. She added that the country has full faith in the judiciary and that justice would eventually prevail.
Kejriwal Argues Recusal Plea in Person
Gupta’s comments followed Kejriwal’s appearance in the Delhi High Court on Monday, where he personally presented arguments requesting Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to recuse herself from hearing the CBI’s appeal against a trial court decision that had discharged him and others in the excise policy case.
Kejriwal told the court that his request was based on a “reasonable apprehension” that he might not receive a fair hearing. Along with former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and four others, he urged the judge to withdraw from the proceedings.
During his submissions, Kejriwal argued that earlier observations made by the court in related matters were so strong that they appeared to resemble conclusive findings against him. He said such remarks raised doubts about whether those views could influence the current proceedings.
He also referred to the trial court’s discharge order, which followed months of hearings and concluded that there was no evidence of offence, bribery or proceeds of crime. Kejriwal questioned the High Court’s interim order issued on March 9 without hearing all parties, suggesting that it weakened the conclusions reached by the trial court.
Court Limits Hearing to Recusal Question
Kejriwal maintained that his request was limited to a procedural issue and centred on legal principles governing judicial recusal. He argued that even the possibility of perceived bias could justify such a request and presented ten grounds to support his plea. According to him, the matter concerned only the court and the litigant, rather than the prosecuting agency.
The High Court indicated that it would examine only the recusal application and the grounds cited in support of it. Questions related to the merits of the trial court’s discharge order, the court said, would be dealt with separately.
The court is currently considering the CBI’s challenge to the discharge of Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22 case.
