Overview
- Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved her decision Monday after a four‑plus‑hour hearing on recusal pleas filed by Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other accused in the Delhi excise case.
- Kejriwal, arguing in person, said he has a reasonable fear of bias based on prior orders that he says undercut the February 27 trial‑court discharge and on the judge’s attendance at Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad events.
- The CBI opposed the applications, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta calling them an abuse of process, urging dismissal with costs and contempt action, and arguing that attending a legal seminar does not show ideological tilt.
- The case reached the High Court after a trial judge discharged 23 people on February 27 and criticized the CBI, and on March 9 Justice Sharma issued notices on the CBI’s challenge and stayed a recommendation for action against the investigating officer.
- The reserved order will determine whether the CBI’s revision continues before Justice Sharma or is heard by another bench, after the Chief Justice earlier declined a transfer request and left recusal to the assigned judge.