Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and several other individuals acquitted in the excise policy case have filed a recusal plea before the Delhi High Court, requesting Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma to step aside from hearing the matter.
A recusal plea is typically filed when a party fears possible bias or believes that a judge may have a personal interest connected to the case. The objective of such a request is to ensure fairness and impartiality in judicial proceedings.
In a significant development, Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to appear personally before the court on April 6. Instead of relying solely on his legal team, he will present arguments himself in support of the plea.
The case relates to Delhi’s former excise policy, which had come under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over alleged corruption charges. Kejriwal and several other leaders have previously received relief or been cleared in connection with the matter.
During the ongoing legal proceedings, the defence has now raised questions regarding judicial neutrality and has moved the latest application seeking the judge’s recusal.
The upcoming hearing is being viewed as politically and legally significant. If the court accepts the plea, the case may be transferred to another bench, potentially extending the timeline of further hearings.
