BJP MPs demand Kejriwal's arrest over 'Satyagraha' and court snub
Synopsis
Arvind Kejriwal's decision to boycott Delhi High Court proceedings — invoking Gandhi's Satyagraha while refusing to appear before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma — has drawn fierce BJP condemnation, with MPs calling for his arrest and accusing him of constitutional contempt, even as the excise policy case tightens around AAP's top leadership.
Key Takeaways
BJP MPs on Wednesday accused Arvind Kejriwal of "insulting" India's Constitution over his Satyagraha declaration.
Kejriwal wrote to Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stating he would not appear personally or through counsel in the Delhi Excise Policy case .
BJP MP Yogender Chandolia demanded Kejriwal's arrest; BJP MP Harsh Malhotra called the Satyagraha reference hypocritical given the liquor policy charges.
BJP MP Swati Maliwal called Kejriwal's stance "anarchy" and said he was defaming a woman judge who reached her position through personal struggle.
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also written a letter to Justice Sharma expressing reservations, following Kejriwal's lead.
Justice Sharma had earlier rejected Kejriwal's plea seeking her recusal from excise policy-related matters.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of "insulting" the Constitution after he declared he would neither appear personally nor be represented by legal counsel before Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in proceedings linked to the Delhi Excise Policy case. Kejriwal invoked Mahatma Gandhi's path of 'Satyagraha' in a letter to the judge, triggering a political firestorm in New Delhi.
What Kejriwal Said
In his letter to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, Kejriwal wrote:
Point of View
Kejriwal has handed the BJP a potent counter-narrative. More consequentially, his decision to bypass legal counsel sets a troubling precedent: if a senior political leader can publicly declare distrust in a sitting judge and refuse to participate in proceedings, it chips away at the institutional legitimacy of the judiciary. The fact that Sisodia has now followed suit suggests this is a coordinated AAP strategy, not an individual act of conscience — raising the question of whether this is principle or politics.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Arvind Kejriwal refuse to appear before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma?
Arvind Kejriwal stated in a letter that his "hope of getting justice" from Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma was "shattered," and declared he would follow Mahatma Gandhi's path of Satyagraha. He announced he would neither appear personally nor be represented by legal counsel in proceedings related to the Delhi Excise Policy case before her.
What is the Delhi Excise Policy case?
The Delhi Excise Policy case involves alleged irregularities in the AAP-led Delhi government's now-scrapped liquor policy. Several AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, have faced legal proceedings in connection with the case.
What did BJP MPs say about Kejriwal's Satyagraha declaration?
BJP MP Yogender Chandolia demanded that Kejriwal be arrested for insulting the Constitution. BJP MP Harsh Malhotra called the Satyagraha reference hypocritical, noting that Mahatma Gandhi was against liquor. BJP MP Swati Maliwal called the move "anarchy" and said Kejriwal was defaming Justice Sharma, a woman judge who had earned her position through personal struggle.
Did the Delhi High Court reject Kejriwal's recusal plea?
Yes. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had rejected Kejriwal's plea seeking her recusal from hearing matters connected to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy case. Kejriwal's letter and Satyagraha declaration came in the days following that rejection.
Has anyone else from AAP followed Kejriwal's approach?
Yes. Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has also written a letter to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma expressing his reservations about the proceedings, following Kejriwal's lead in the Delhi Excise Policy case.
