Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refused to accept Arvind Kejriwal's plea for her to recuse herself from his case, slamming his contention that Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement showed bias.
Kejriwal had claimed that Shah's statement, which suggested he would ultimately have to go to the Supreme Court, implied that the HC would pass an order against him and others in the corruption case.
However, Justice Sharma said that seeking recusal based on a politician's comment was 'purely on imagination' and that the court had no control over what politicians say in public.
She added that impartiality is a presumption in favor of a judge and that mere apprehension or personal perception is not enough to rebut this presumption.
The judge also noted that these applications of recusal would have no bearing on her decision when she decides the matter finally on the CBI's appeal against Kejriwal and others' discharge in the corruption case.
