The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notices to Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and several others in a criminal contempt case linked to remarks made against Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The proceedings were initiated after the judge took note of what she described as an “orchestrated social media campaign” targeting her during the Delhi excise policy case hearings.

A division bench of Justice Navin Chawla and Justice Ravinder Dudeja directed the AAP leaders to submit their replies within four weeks. The contempt proceedings were initiated after social media posts by Kejriwal and other party leaders questioned the conduct of Justice Sharma in the Delhi liquor policy matter.

The controversy began after a trial court discharged Kejriwal and 22 other accused in the Delhi liquor policy case. While delivering the order, the trial court had strongly criticised the CBI’s investigation in the matter. Following this, the CBI challenged the discharge order before the Delhi High Court.

During the High Court proceedings, Kejriwal, Sisodia and other accused moved an application seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the matter. They alleged bias on the part of the judge and requested that the case be transferred to another bench.

Justice Sharma rejected the recusal plea earlier and described the allegations made against her as defamatory. She also took serious note of the online campaign and initiated criminal contempt proceedings against the AAP leadership. The judge observed that the allegations and posts circulating on social media were aimed at lowering the dignity of the court.

The confrontation between the AAP leaders and the judge intensified after the rejection of the recusal application. Kejriwal and Sisodia later stated that they would not appear before Justice Sharma during the hearings. The developments added further tension to the already politically sensitive liquor policy case.

Justice Sharma has now transferred the CBI appeal related to the discharge order to another bench. During Tuesday’s hearing, the High Court also directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that Kejriwal, Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak are informed about the transfer of the matter so they can appear before the new bench if they choose to do so.

The High Court further instructed the AAP leaders to file their responses to the CBI’s appeal against the discharge order by Monday. The matter is expected to continue before the newly assigned bench in the coming days.

The Delhi excise policy case has remained a major political and legal issue for the Aam Aadmi Party. Several senior party leaders have faced investigation and court proceedings in connection with the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped liquor policy. The latest contempt proceedings have added another legal challenge for the party leadership as the dispute over the remarks against the judge moves ahead in court.