New Delhi: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has written to Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, stating that he will not participate further in the ongoing excise policy case after the court dismissed his recusal plea.

In his letter, Kejriwal said his decision was taken “with utmost respect” for the judiciary and was based on conscience rather than defiance. While reiterating his faith in the judicial system, he expressed concerns over what he described as a perceived lack of impartiality in the matter.

The development follows the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his plea seeking Justice Sharma’s recusal. The court held that the allegations did not establish any reasonable apprehension of bias and were based on conjecture. It also observed that judicial impartiality cannot be questioned without substantive evidence and warned against undermining institutional credibility through unfounded claims.

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Kejriwal, however, reiterated concerns raised in his plea, including references to the judge’s associations with legal bodies and questions over potential conflicts linked to family members’ professional roles. He also pointed to procedural aspects of case allocation and remarks made in the court’s order, which he said contributed to his apprehension of bias.

In his letter, he invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of satyagraha, describing his decision as a “quiet insistence of conscience” and a form of peaceful protest. He said he would not appear personally or through counsel before the current bench, though he may challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

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The Delhi High Court, in its ruling, had emphasised that recusal cannot be sought on perceived bias alone and noted that judicial conduct must be assessed by higher courts, not litigants.

The case relates to the Delhi Excise Policy 2021–22 matter, in which the Central Bureau of Investigation has challenged the discharge of Kejriwal and others. The court is expected to proceed with the hearing despite his stated non-participation.

(ANI)