New Delhi: delhi high court heard on monday industrial and commercial bankQuestioning former chief minister’s plea to remove him from office Arvind Kejriwal and others in alleged excise tax policy cases. The matter is currently on the market until April 13.Kejriwal, who was accompanied by his wife in court, informed the judge that he intended to argue his recusal application in person. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma heard the matter.During the proceedings, the judge clarified that the petitioner could argue in person only after being relieved of counsel. The judge asked Kejriwal: “Will you defend your case personally?” He confirmed: “I will defend the case personally. I will use my legal rights. So far I have not issued my vakalatnama to anyone.Kejriwal told the court, “I have filed a recusal petition. Please put it on record.” Explaining the procedural limitations, he added that as a petitioner representing himself, he was unable to file the application electronically and asked the court to accept paper copies, according to the bar association and the judge. “I will personally argue the application and exercise my legal rights thereafter,” he said.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, objected to Kejriwal arguing in person without performing his duties as a lawyer.“I have no objection to him appearing in person but he has retained a lawyer. He cannot defend himself unless he withdraws his lawyer – if he chooses to appear in court, only he should represent the case as it proceeds. This forum is not for showmanship,” Mehta said.He also expressed concern about multiple recusal applications and made repeated accusations against the judiciary.“There are people who have made a career out of making accusations. These are not just personal accusations; they are against an institution. This is a very serious thing that happened in the nation’s capital,” he said, referring to the multiple recusal requests filed in the case.Kejriwal maintained that he was following the High Court procedure. “I have filed the recusal application as per the High Court procedure. Petitioners appearing in person cannot file the application electronically, so please your Lordships to place it on record,” he said.The court has issued notice to the CBI on Kejriwal’s plea seeking the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma. The judge clarified that any other party wishing to lodge a recusal application may do so.
Background to the consumption tax policy case
The excise policy case revolves around allegations of irregularities in Delhi’s liquor licensing process when Kejriwal was chief minister. Several former officials, including Kejriwal, were initially removed from service by the trial court, a decision that was challenged by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation.On March 11, Kejriwal and other former defendants filed submissions seeking to have the case reassigned to a different judge, citing “serious, good faith and reasonable concerns” that the hearing would be unfair.Earlier, the high court had given Kejriwal and others a last chance to present their stand on the plea of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which was seeking to clear up the “unreasonable remarks” made against them by the trial court while freeing the accused in the case.
