The Delhi High Court has directed police to ensure the removal of all unauthorised videos circulating on social media that show Arvind Kejriwal arguing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma during the hearing of his plea seeking the judge’s recusal in the Delhi Excise Policy case.
The directive follows controversy over the recording and circulation of court proceedings, with registry officials initiating action against those responsible for violating video conferencing rules.
Officials noted that similar action in the past targeted those who posted court recordings online.
Earlier, advocate Vaibhav Singh filed a complaint before the High Court, alleging unauthorised recording and dissemination of audio and video from the April 13 proceedings.
In his complaint to the Registrar General, he claimed that several political leaders, including Kejriwal and members of the Aam Aadmi Party, deliberately recorded and shared the proceedings across social media platforms.
Singh argued that the act violated the Delhi High Court Rules for Video Conferencing, 2021, and the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, which prohibit unauthorised recording or publication.
The complaint also described the circulation as a pre-planned conspiracy aimed at maligning the judiciary and misleading the public.
“It is requested to set up a detailed inquiry into this matter and take appropriate action against all the persons/political parties for wilfully and deliberately disobeying the rules,” the complaint stated.
Recusal Plea and Court Proceedings
The April 13 hearing concerned Kejriwal’s plea seeking the recusal of Justice Sharma from cases linked to the alleged excise policy matter.
Kejriwal appeared in person and argued for nearly 45 minutes, stating he is no longer an accused after the trial court discharged him and others. He contended that a subsequent ex parte order partially staying the trial court’s findings created a reasonable apprehension about a fair hearing.
“When this order came, my heart sank. I seriously doubted that the court would deliver justice,” he told the court, adding that he wrote to Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and sought transfer of the case.
Responding, Justice Sharma observed that recusal proceedings cannot examine such issues and that parties may challenge them before the Supreme Court. Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta cautioned against undermining judicial dignity.
“Whether we win or lose, we must remain fair to the court,” he said.
The High Court has reserved its verdict and asked parties to file brief written submissions within the stipulated timeline.
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