The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday claimed a political and legal victory after Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma recused herself from hearing matters linked to the Delhi excise policy case involving former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The development took place during court proceedings when the matter came up for hearing, following which Justice Sharma stepped aside from the case without assigning detailed reasons. The case will now be listed before a different bench, as per routine judicial procedure.
Soon after the recusal, AAP leaders strongly reacted, describing the development as a “vindication” of their stand that the case against Kejriwal was politically motivated. Senior party representatives said the move strengthened their argument that legal proceedings related to the excise policy were being “misused for political targeting.”
The party also asserted that repeated changes in judicial benches and procedural developments indicated inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case. AAP leaders said they remained confident that Kejriwal would be cleared of all allegations once the matter was fully examined by the court.
However, legal observers noted that a judge’s recusal is a routine judicial process and does not indicate any judgment on the merits of the case. Such decisions are often made to ensure fairness, avoid any perceived conflict of interest, and maintain the integrity of proceedings.
The excise policy case has been one of the most politically sensitive legal matters in recent years, with several AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, facing allegations related to irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy. The case has seen multiple investigations and court hearings over time.
Opposition parties, meanwhile, have maintained that judicial developments should not be interpreted politically. They argue that ongoing investigations should be allowed to proceed independently without narrative-building from any side.
The case will now be reassigned to another bench, and further hearings are expected in the coming weeks. For AAP, however, the recusal has already become a key talking point, with the party projecting it as a positive turn in a long-running legal and political battle.
