Kejriwal to Argue Own Case in Delhi HC Recusal Plea
Kejriwal to Argue Own Case in Delhi HC Recusal Plea
Arvind Kejriwal says he will argue his recusal plea personally in the Delhi High Court as the CBI challenges his discharge in the excise policy case.
Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor, is set to appear in the Delhi High Court to argue his own recusal application in the ongoing Delhi excise policy matter. The case centers on Kejriwal’s challenge to a judge's recusal, with the court currently weighing whether Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma should continue hearing the matter after concerns of potential bias were raised. The high court had earlier sought the Central Bureau of Investigation’s response to the recusal plea, while also dealing with the broader appeal filed by the agency over the discharge of Kejriwal and 22 others in the same excise policy case. The proceedings have kept the capital's political circles focused on judicial propriety and the pace of this high-profile investigation. Kejriwal has consistently argued that timely and fair adjudication is essential to resolving the matter, and he confirmed that he intends to present his case in person when the hearing resumes.
Accompanied by his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister returned to the court premises for the latest phase of the proceedings. The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed a request to reassign the matter to a different bench, determining that the present bench’s roster was appropriate for the case. As the court prepared to hear arguments on the recusal issue, the Solicitor General led the government’s opposition, contending that the allegations of bias were without merit and that the case is of significant importance to the capital’s governance and law enforcement landscape. The judge’s recusal application is listed for continued consideration, with the next hearing date in focus as both sides brace for legal arguments on the grounds of bias and procedural propriety. The unfolding drama continues to test the efficiency of the capital’s judiciary and the ability of its leaders to separate political narratives from judicial decision-making.
Observers say the outcome could influence not only the trajectory of the excise policy case but also public perceptions of judicial impartiality in high-stakes political disputes. While the court has emphasized adherence to procedure, Kejriwal’s move to argue the recusal plea himself signals a direct engagement with the process, potentially shaping how such disputes are presented in Indian courts. The next hearing date, focusing on the recusal question and the CBI’s challenges to the discharge, remains a point of keen interest for supporters and critics alike as Delhi watches closely.
