The Delhi High Court has officially directed the city police to scrub social media of unauthorized video and audio recordings of court proceedings involving AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. The move comes after clips of the Chief Minister arguing his own case went viral, sparking a debate over judicial privacy and digital conduct.
Key Directives and Legal Violations
The High Court administration emphasized that capturing or distributing footage of court sessions is a direct violation of established protocols.
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Prohibited Content: The videos in question show Kejriwal arguing before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma regarding an application for her recusal in the ongoing excise policy case.
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Legal Framework: The court cited the Delhi High Court Rules for Video Conferencing (2021) and the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules (2025), both of which strictly forbid unauthorized recording or publication of legal proceedings.
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Enforcement: Authorities are currently identifying individuals across various platforms who shared the clips, with a senior official confirming that such actions have precedent from similar incidents in June 2024.
Allegations of Judicial Manipulation
A formal complaint filed with the Registrar General suggests that the leak was not accidental but a calculated attempt to sway public opinion.
“The circulation of such material was deliberate and aimed at influencing public perception and harming the image of the judiciary.” — Excerpt from the formal complaint.
The complaint highlights several concerns:
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Political Sharing: AAP leaders and other political figures allegedly shared the clips to bolster their narrative.
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Misrepresentation: Many clips were circulated with commentary that the complainant argues misrepresents the actual legal dialogue.
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Judicial Integrity: The unauthorized spread of these videos is seen as a threat to public confidence in the judicial system.
Context: The April 13 Hearing
The specific hearing took place on April 13, 2026, where Arvind Kejriwal appeared in person. The session was particularly sensitive as it involved Kejriwal seeking the recusal of the presiding judge in matters related to the liquor policy case.
The Delhi Police are now tasked with ensuring the digital removal of these assets while a detailed inquiry into the source of the recordings continues.
