Kejriwal Boycott Persists as High Court Probes “Grand Corruption” and Revenue Loss

Kejriwal Boycott Persists as High Court Probes “Grand Corruption” and Revenue Loss

Beyond the excise probe, the “AAP Corruption Model” is described as a multi-sectoral collapse of integrity.

RMN News Legal Desk
New Delhi | May 5, 2026

The Delhi High Court continues to navigate a high-stakes judicial standoff as Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia maintain their “Satyagraha” boycott of proceedings before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. As of May 5, 2026, the court is awaiting complete trial records to begin formal arguments regarding the CBI’s challenge to a February order that had previously discharged the AAP leaders.

Judicial Standoff and the “Satyagraha” Boycott

The current friction stems from Justice Sharma’s April 20 refusal to recuse herself from the case. Kejriwal and Sisodia sought her recusal, alleging bias because her children serve as central government panel lawyers. Following the rejection of this plea—which the court termed “unfounded”—the AAP leadership announced they would no longer participate in the hearings, citing a total loss of faith in the bench and invoking Gandhian principles. During the May 4 hearing, Justice Sharma emphasized that the judiciary would not “bow to pressure” or perception battles, granting the accused a “last and final opportunity” to file their responses.

Also Read:

[ Investigating the AAP Corruption Model and Systematic Financial Misconduct Allegations ]

[ क्या है आम आदमी पार्टी और अरविंद केजरीवाल के भ्रष्टाचार का मॉडल? ]

[ Delhi Excise Policy Case and AAP Corruption Model ]

[ Evidentiary Standards and Allegations of Grand Corruption in the Delhi Excise Policy Investigation ]

The “Grand Corruption” Framework

Central to the ongoing investigation is the allegation that the now-scrapped 2021-22 Delhi Excise Policy was a “theft by design” rather than a mere policy failure. Investigative reports highlight a catastrophic divergence in fiscal projections:

• Revenue Collapse: While the state projected earnings of ₹9,000 crore, actual revenue plummeted to ₹3,700 crore.
• Margin Manipulation: The policy arbitrarily increased wholesaler profit margins from 5% to 12%, a 140% hike that allegedly served as a vehicle for siphoning a 3.5% net kickback to AAP leadership.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has further escalated the case by invoking Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), effectively classifying the Aam Aadmi Party as a “company”. This move establishes “vicarious liability,” asserting the party itself was the ultimate beneficiary of the alleged “proceeds of crime” used to fund election campaigns in Goa and Punjab.

Allegations of Obstruction and Systematic Misconduct

The investigation has documented significant hurdles regarding the “spoliation of evidence.” According to the ED, approximately 140 mobile phones were changed or destroyed by 30 individuals implicated in the scandal. Furthermore, Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly refused to provide access to his personal mobile devices, which investigators believe contain critical communication logs.

Beyond the excise probe, the “AAP Corruption Model” is described as a multi-sectoral collapse of integrity involving:

• The Hospital Construction Scandal: Allegations of ₹5,590 crore in fiscal irregularities.
• The “Sheeshmahal” Breach: Misappropriation of over ₹45 crore for the refurbishment of the Chief Minister’s residence.
• International Money Trails: Leads suggest that siphoned funds may have been sequestered in offshore accounts in London, with the agencies specifically probing the role of Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.

Current Status and Future Mandates

While Kejriwal remains on interim bail in the money laundering case, the High Court is poised to review whether the trial court’s earlier discharge was a legitimate ruling or a “mini-trial” that overlooked massive constitutional breaches. Investigative advocates are now calling for special courts to fast-track these probes and for an aggressive pursuit of the international money trail to preserve the integrity of the Indian state.