Delhi HC Rejects Kejriwal Plea for Judge Recusal in Excise Case

The Delhi High Court on April 20 rejected a plea by Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and other accused seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing a Central Bureau of Investigation appeal in the Delhi excise policy case. The ruling, delivered in a detailed 115-page judgment, came amid allegations of potential bias raised by Kejriwal, who argued for a different bench to ensure impartial proceedings.

Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, and co-accused including Manish Sisodia filed the applications after a trial court discharged them and 22 others on February 27, ruling that the CBI's charges lacked evidence of conspiracy or criminal intent in the now-scrapped 2021 excise policy. The CBI challenged that discharge, alleging irregularities in the policy that allowed wholesalers' commissions to rise from 5 percent to 12 percent, facilitating bribes from entities with significant market shares. The policy, implemented in November 2021 and withdrawn in July 2022 on the recommendation of then-Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, has drawn parallel probes by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges.

In his plea, Kejriwal cited a "grave...