New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal appeared in person before the Delhi High Court seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation challenging the discharge of the AAP leader and other accused in the alleged liquor policy case.
After waiting in court for nearly three hours, Kejriwal informed the bench that he intended to argue the recusal application himself. He requested the court to accept his plea on record, stating that as a litigant appearing in person he was unable to file the application through the court’s online system.
Representing the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta strongly opposed the request, describing the recusal petition filed by Kejriwal and seven others as frivolous, vexatious and contemptuous. Mehta argued that the courtroom should not be used for theatrics and said Kejriwal should formally discharge his lawyer if he wished to argue the matter personally.
Kejriwal responded that he would exercise his legal rights and present arguments on the recusal application himself, while reserving the option to be represented by legal counsel later in the proceedings.
The High Court allowed the CBI to submit its response to the recusal plea and scheduled the next hearing for Monday. The bench also observed that Kejriwal had withdrawn a petition he had earlier filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the transfer of the case to another bench.
The court issued a warning to other accused who have not yet filed their replies to the CBI’s petition, stating that their right to respond could be closed if the delays continue.
The case arises from the CBI’s challenge to an order passed by the Rouse Avenue Court on February 27, which discharged 23 individuals, including Kejriwal, in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi’s liquor policy.
Earlier, D K Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, declined Kejriwal’s request to transfer the case from Justice Sharma’s bench, stating that the decision on recusal rests with the judge concerned. The matter will now be considered after the CBI files its reply to the plea.
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