Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will argue his own case before the Delhi High Court next week on his plea seeking recusal of a judge from hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal in the alleged excise policy case.
The matter is scheduled for hearing on April 13 before Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, after Kejriwal told the court on Monday that he would personally argue the application.
Kejriwal, accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, appeared before the High Court amid speculation over his decision to represent himself. The court has sought the CBI’s response to his plea, in which he has raised apprehensions of bias and sought the judge’s recusal from the case.
The application pertains to the CBI’s appeal against a trial court order that had discharged Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, and 21 others in the excise policy case.
Earlier, Kejriwal had approached the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, seeking reassignment of the case to another bench. However, the request was rejected on the administrative side, with the court stating that the matter had been assigned in accordance with the existing roster.
Also read: Kejriwal's recusal pea:SG says court is not forum for 'theatrics'
During the hearing, the CBI, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, opposed the recusal plea, describing the allegations as “frivolous, vexatious, contemptuous, and baseless”, and emphasised the seriousness of the matter.
When asked by the court whether he intended to argue the case himself, Kejriwal replied, “I will argue this application myself.” The court subsequently posted the matter for further hearing on April 13 at 2:30 pm.
Kejriwal also informed the High Court that he has withdrawn a related writ petition filed before the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the case to another bench.
The recusal plea stems from concerns raised by Kejriwal and others over what they termed a “grave, bona fide, and reasonable apprehension” of bias. They cited observations made by the High Court during an earlier hearing on March 9, when it recorded a prima facie view that the trial court’s discharge order was “erroneous”, allegedly without hearing the discharged accused.
On February 27, the trial court had discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and others, stating that the material placed by the CBI did not disclose even a prima facie case.
The High Court is now set to examine both the recusal plea and the agency’s challenge to the discharge order, in a case that continues to draw significant political and legal attention.
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