CBI opposes plea for judge’s recusal in Delhi liquor policy case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday (April 9, 2026) informed the Delhi High Court that former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other discharged accused in the liquor policy case cannot seek the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma merely because she attended a “legal seminar” by the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad, as it does not demonstrate any ideological association.

In response to applications by the AAP leader and others seeking the judge’s recusal from hearing the CBI’s challenge to the trial court’s discharge order, the agency said, “If attending a function of Akhil Bhartiya Adhivakta Parishad shows ideological bias of any judge then large number of sitting High Court and Supreme Court judges would have to recuse from hearing any case where politically exposed persons are accused”.