Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recuses from Karti Chidambaram plea in Diageo Scotland-linked CBI case

In a significant development, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court has recused herself from hearing Congress MP Karti Chidambaram’s plea in a corruption case being investigated by the central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The case is related to alleged irregularities involving Diageo Scotland. The CBI has accused Karti Chidambaram of helping the company get relief from a ban on duty-free sale of its whiskey back in 2005, when his father, P Chidambaram was serving as the Union Finance Minister. However Karti Chidambaram has denied the charges and claimed that the FIR filed against him is politically motivated. 

During the hearing, Justice Sharma said that the matter will now be listed before a different bench in July. She also stated that a related case filed by Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, connected to the same FIR, will be heard by another bench as well. 

Karti Chidambaram has been booked under sections related to criminal conspiracy and cheating, along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. 

This is not the first time Justice Sharma has stepped aside from a case involving him. Earlier in January, she had also recused herself from hearing his plea in the alleged Chinese visa scam case. 

Interestingly, this development comes just a week after she refused to recuse herself from a separate case involving Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders in the Delhi excise policy matter. While allegations of bias were raised in that case, the CBI had defended the judge, saying her past orders show fairness.

The latest move has again brought attention to ongoing legal and political tensions around such high profile cases.