New Delhi, April 13, 2026: In a sharp courtroom confrontation, former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal appeared in person before the Delhi High Court today and directly questioned the impartiality of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, citing her attendance at four events linked to the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad — an organisation associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP.
Kejriwal, arguing his own recusal application as a party-in-person, told the judge: “Your attending four times creates an apprehension in my mind — whether I will get justice.” He alleged that these participations raised a “reasonable apprehension” of bias in the ongoing liquor policy case, where the CBI has challenged a trial court’s February 2026 order discharging him and 22 others, including Manish Sisodia.
The hearing stemmed from Kejriwal’s plea seeking Justice Sharma’s recusal from hearing the CBI’s revision petition. He has previously pointed to the judge’s past rulings in related excise policy matters, including staying certain trial court observations, as contributing to his doubts about neutrality. Kejriwal clarified he would argue the recusal himself but might involve his lawyer for the substantive CBI petition later.
The CBI strongly opposed the recusal, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing that attending a legal seminar by the Adhivakta Parishad does not indicate ideological bias. The agency filed a counter-affidavit listing the four specific events Justice Sharma attended between 2022 and 2025, describing them as standard legal conferences rather than political affiliations. Mehta emphasised that if such attendance were grounds for recusal, many judges across high courts and the Supreme Court would face similar challenges in cases involving politically exposed persons. He reportedly cautioned against turning the court into a “forum for theatrics.”
Details of the events cited include Justice Sharma’s participation as a guest of honour or speaker in programmes organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, such as the 16th National Conference in December 2022 at Kurukshetra University on “75 Years of Resurgent Bharat – Changing Contours of Law and Justice,” and other seminars up to 2025.
Kejriwal’s move comes after a trial court in February 2026 gave him and other accused a clean chit in the Delhi excise policy case, with the judge sharply criticising the CBI’s probe as based on “conjecture and surmise” lacking admissible evidence. The CBI is now appealing that discharge order before the High Court.
The Delhi High Court has scheduled further proceedings, with the matter listed for continued hearing. Observers note that judicial recusal applications are relatively rare and are granted only when a “reasonable apprehension of bias” is convincingly established, a high threshold under Indian jurisprudence.
This episode adds another layer of political and legal tension to the long-running liquor policy case, which has seen multiple twists, including Kejriwal’s earlier arrests, bail grants, and emotional public moments following the trial court’s discharge order.
The court is expected to deliberate on whether the cited attendances constitute sufficient grounds for recusal or if they fall within normal judicial engagement with legal forums.
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