Businessman Amandeep Singh Dhall, an accused in the Delhi Excise policy case, has approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the charge sheet filed against him and the subsequent summoning order.
CBI Questions Maintainability Of Petition
The Central Bureau of Investigation has opposed the petition, arguing that Dhall has approached the High Court after an unjustified delay of 2 years. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) D.P. Singh contended that the petitioner could have challenged the cognizance order when it was first taken but is now seeking to quash it after a prolonged lapse.
After hearing initial arguments, Justice Vikas Mahajan directed the CBI to submit a note on the maintainability of the petition. The court scheduled the next hearing for March 19, 2025.
Defense Argues Lack Of Conspiracy Involvement
Dhall’s petition, filed through Advocate Adit S. Pujari, asserts that he was not part of any conspiracy with the other accused individuals. Pujari clarified that they are contesting only the charge sheet and summoning order, not the original FIR, which has now led to formal charges.
The advocate further noted that the CBI filed a supplementary charge sheet against Dhall in 2023, leading to the court taking cognizance and issuing summons. The investigation was completed in July 2024, and the supplementary charge sheet was submitted thereafter. In February 2025, the agency also filed a list of unrelied-upon documents.
Court Weighs Legal Limitations
During the proceedings, the court asked the CBI whether its primary objection was based on the expiration of the limitation period. The agency affirmed that the petition is time-barred and unlikely to hold legal merit, given the limited scope of judicial intervention at this stage.
Context
The case pertains to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Excise Policy. Several prominent political figures, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, are also accused in the matter.
With the next hearing set for March 19, the court’s decision on the maintainability of Dhall’s petition will be a crucial legal development in the ongoing case.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
