BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI/ April 28, 2026: The standoff between AAP leaders and the judiciary in the excise policy case deepened on Tuesday, with Manish Sisodia announcing he will not appear before Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma—a day after Arvind Kejriwal took a similar position.
In a letter addressed to the judge, Sisodia said neither he nor any lawyer would represent him in the proceedings. He cited concerns over a potential conflict of interest, alleging that Justice Sharma’s children are empanelled as lawyers for the central government, which is represented in court by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Sisodia wrote that the “future of your children lies in the hands of” Mehta and expressed that he had “no hope for justice” under the current circumstances. He added that he would instead follow the path of Satyagraha.
जस्टिस स्वर्णकान्ता शर्मा जी से न्याय मिलने की मेरी उम्मीद टूट चुकी है।
अपनी अंतरात्मा की आवाज़ सुनते हुए, गांधी जी के सिद्धांतो को मानते हुए और सत्याग्रह की भावना के साथ, मैंने फ़ैसला किया है कि मैं इस केस में उनके सामने पेश नहीं हूंगा और कोई दलील भी नहीं रखूँगा। pic.twitter.com/vhTSEZabqa
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 27, 2026
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Kejriwal, in a four-page letter issued a day earlier, had also declared that he would neither appear in person nor be represented by counsel in the same case before Justice Sharma. He said he had reached a “clear conclusion” that the proceedings did not satisfy the principle that justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done. His decision followed the judge’s refusal to recuse herself from the matter.
Posting on X, Kejriwal said his “hope of receiving justice” had been shattered and that his decision was guided by the principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
The case relates to the Delhi excise policy case, in which a special court had acquitted Kejriwal, Sisodia and others on February 27. The Central Bureau of Investigation later challenged the verdict in the Delhi High Court, where the matter is currently being heard by Justice Sharma.
Despite his objections in this case, Kejriwal reiterated that he has “complete faith in the judiciary” and holds Justice Sharma in high regard, adding that he would not object to appearing before her in other matters where the BJP-led Centre or Solicitor General Mehta are not involved.
