Excise policy case: Kejriwal seeks judge’s recusal; SG Mehta calls plea ‘motivated & juvenile'

New Delhi: Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Monday argued in person seeking recusal of justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from hearing the Delhi excise policy case. The AAP chief contended that Justice Sharma's conduct outside the court and her orders created reasonable apprehension in his mind about getting an impartial hearing.

Kejriwal argued that justice Sharma has consistently passed orders in favour of ED and CBI in the Delhi excise policy case.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal’s plea seeking HC judge’s recusal taken on record, hearing set for April 13


He alleged there was a trend in justice Sharma's orders of accepting every single contention by ED and CBI. Kejriwal argued that the well-reasoned order passed by the trial court on February 27 discharging him and all co-accused in the case after hearing the matter in detail for three months, was partly stayed by justice Sharma after very brief hearings which lasted for only a few minutes.

Strongly opposing Kejriwal's plea and similar pleas, SG Tushar Mehta contended the "motivated" and "juvenile" plea should be dismissed and contempt of court should be initiated against those seeking recusal.

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal files plea in HC seeking recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma

Kejriwal placed reliance on a recusal application filed by ED a few years ago in a money laundering case involving his AAP colleague Satyendar Jain. ED's request for recusal was allowed on the ground that ED had an apprehension of bias, and not that the judge was not upright, Kejriwal said.