Delhi HC Denies Kejriwal's Transfer Request

Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya of the India===Delhi High Court has rejected a request from former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and others to transfer the India===Central Bureau of Investigation's plea against their discharge in the excise policy case. The plea will remain with Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma's bench. Kejriwal and other accused, including Manish Sisodia, had sought the transfer, citing 'grave, bona fide, and reasonable apprehension' of impartiality from Justice Sharma, based on her past conduct and observations in related cases. Justice Sharma had previously stayed a trial court's recommendation for departmental action against a CBI investigating officer and noted that the trial court's discharge order 'prima facie appeared erroneous'. The trial court had discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others, criticizing the CBI's case as unable to survive judicial scrutiny.