New Delhi, April 6 Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared in person before the Delhi High Court on Monday, seeking the recusal of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma from hearing the CBI petition challenging the discharge of the AAP convener and all other accused in the liquor policy case.
Justice Sharma accepted Kejriwal's application for her recusal and listed it for hearing on April 13.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, argued that the court was not a platform for theatrics and Kejriwal should seek his lawyer's assistance if he wanted to appear in person in the case.
He strongly objected to the recusal application and said Kejriwal's allegations were frivolous and contemptuous.
Mehta also informed that seven accused who were discharged have filed applications seeking the recusal of the judge.
"If anyone else wants to file the application, please do so so that I can decide it once and for all," Justice Sharma said.
On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others and criticized the CBI, saying its case was wholly unable to withstand judicial scrutiny and was discredited in its entirety.
On March 9, Justice Sharma issued notice to all 23 accused on the CBI's plea against their discharge, stating that certain observations and findings of the trial court at the stage of framing charges appeared erroneous and required consideration.
She stayed the trial court's recommendation on the initiation of departmental action against the CBI's investigating officer in the liquor policy case.
Later, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court, D K Upadhyaya, declined Kejriwal's request to transfer the CBI's plea from Justice Sharma to another judge and said that a decision on recusal has to be taken by the concerned judge.
In a representation made on March 11, Kejriwal, along with AAP leader Manish Sisodia, and other accused in the excise policy case, claimed that there was a "grave, bona fide, and reasonable apprehension" that the hearing in the matter before Justice Sharma would not be impartial and neutral.