Delhi High Court Reserves Judgment on Kejriwal's Plea to Remove Judge in Excise Policy Case

The Delhi High Court has decided to reserve its judgment regarding a petition filed by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He sought the removal of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma from the hearing of the CBI's appeal in the excise policy case. Kejriwal, who is also the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, presented his arguments in court and submitted his application. As the hearing drew to a close, Justice Sharma acknowledged Kejriwal's strong arguments, suggesting he has the potential to become a lawyer. In response, Kejriwal expressed satisfaction with his approach, stating he has found his path. The judge remarked that it was the first time someone had requested her to recuse herself from a case.

According to Live Law, Justice Sharma mentioned that she learned a lot about the legal principles surrounding recusal. She noted that it was the first instance in her career where someone asked her to step aside from a case, and she hopes to deliver a fair judgment.

In his presentation, Arvind Kejriwal expressed concerns regarding potential bias from Justice Sharma, who typically hears appeals filed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. He informed the court that he felt nearly convicted and was on the verge of being labeled corrupt, with only sentencing pending. Kejriwal further explained that his request for the judge's recusal stemmed from a legitimate fear of not receiving a fair hearing.