On Thursday, the Delhi High Court initiated criminal contempt proceedings against former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated that a 'coordinated campaign' had been conducted to scandalize the judiciary amid ongoing proceedings related to the excise policy case. The judge remarked that the social media posts and public statements made by the AAP leaders crossed the line from fair criticism to criminal contempt, as they not only targeted her but also undermined the integrity of the entire judiciary. Justice Sharma highlighted that while criticism of judicial orders is permissible, there is a 'very thin line' between fair criticism and contempt of court. The judge expressed that the actions of the AAP leaders could lead to public distrust in the judiciary, which, if left unchecked, could result in anarchy. She also recused herself from further hearings in the excise policy case to avoid any appearance of bias. The court's decision follows a revision plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged that the excise policy framed by the AAP-led Delhi government was manipulated to benefit certain liquor traders in exchange for kickbacks.