The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inform former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia about the change of bench that will hear the agency's plea challenging a trial court's order in the excise policy case. The court scheduled the next hearing for May 25.
The CBI's petition, which assails the trial court's decision, was listed before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna after Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused herself from the matter last week. Justice Sharma had directed that the case be placed before a different bench.
Justice Krishna, while hearing the matter, noted that the CBI had not informed the respondents about the change of bench. The court then directed the agency to serve a copy of the petition and inform both Kejriwal and Sisodia about the fresh listing.
The case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. The CBI had challenged the trial court's order granting bail to Kejriwal and Sisodia in the case.
The High Court will now hear the matter on May 25, after the CBI complies with the direction to inform the accused about the bench change.
