On May 14, 2026, the Delhi High Court initiated criminal contempt proceedings against leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. This action follows alleged defamatory social media posts aimed at Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who is presiding over the excise policy case involving the AAP leaders. Justice Sharma accused Kejriwal of conducting a calculated campaign of vilification outside the courtroom, while he professed respect for the judiciary within it. The AAP leaders had previously requested Justice Sharma's recusal, citing potential bias due to her children's association with government lawyers. However, the judge declined this request and expressed her commitment to judicial independence, stating, “I refuse to be intimidated.” The court also criticized the AAP for disseminating selectively edited videos to support their claims, which were deemed misleading. Despite the contempt proceedings, AAP leaders proclaimed a victory, asserting that Justice Sharma had recused herself, a claim the court did not support. This situation raises significant concerns regarding the relationship between political leaders and the judiciary in India.