Arvind Kejriwal, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
NEW DELHI: AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said “truth has triumphed” after the Delhi high court said the excise-policy case involving the former chief minister would be heard by another bench.“Truth has won. Mahatma Gandhi‘s Satyagraha has triumphed once again,” the AAP chief said after the court development.The remarks came after Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma observed that she was not recusing herself from the matter, but that the case would now be placed before another bench.Leader of Opposition in the Delhi assembly Atishi described the development as a “big victory” for Kejriwal and claimed that Justice Sharma had “finally recused” from hearing the excise-policy case.AAP national media in-charge Anurag Dhanda also termed the development a major victory for Kejriwal, saying the party had consistently maintained that the judge should not hear the matter because of an alleged conflict of interest.AAP MLA from Burari Sanjeev Jha said, “Where truth and patience walk hand in hand, victory is assured.”He added that “no matter how dense the darkness may be, the sun of truth pierces through it”, and said the “victory of Gandhi’s Satyagraha is proof that moral power is the greatest power”.Earlier on Thursday, Justice Sharma initiated criminal contempt proceedings against Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bhardwaj and others over what the court described as “vilifying” social media posts targeting her in connection with the excise-policy case.Justice Sharma said the former Delhi chief minister had “orchestrated a calculated campaign” of vilification against her on social media instead of pursuing legal remedies. She also clarified that the CBI’s petition challenging the discharge of all accused persons in the case would now be heard by another bench.The judge said she was not recusing herself from the matter, but transferring the case after initiating contempt proceedings.
