The Delhi High Court has given Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak a final two-week opportunity to file replies to the Central Bureau of Investigation revision petition in the Delhi excise policy case. The court also fixed August 17 for arguments on behalf of the CBI, making the order relevant for criminal procedure and judicial case management.

The case had already seen multiple adjournments. The hearing was deferred because none of the respondents appeared, following a work abstention by High Court lawyers who were protesting a proposal to raise the pecuniary jurisdiction of Delhi district courts. The lawyers later resumed work.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the three leaders had already been given several chances and that the matter was being delayed unduly. The judge noted that the respondents would still be allowed to file their reply, but ordered one last and final opportunity within two weeks.

The procedural history matters because the excise policy case has moved through multiple judicial stages. On May 25, the hearing had been deferred to July 16 to await counsel for the unrepresented leaders, who had earlier boycotted proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The matter later came before Justice Manoj Jain after Justice Sharma released it from her board and also initiated contempt action against Kejriwal, Sisodia, Pathak and others over alleged defamatory or villifying social media posts against her.

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