Kejriwal Raises Concerns Over Judge Sharma's Family Ties in Case

Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, has announced his refusal to appear before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court in an ongoing legal matter. This decision comes amidst heightened scrutiny regarding a perceived conflict of interest involving the judge and her children, who hold significant positions within the legal system.

In a video message shared on Monday, Kejriwal outlined his reasons for abstaining from court appearances, reiterating his concerns about Justice Sharma's family connections to the Central Government's legal representation. He elaborated on this matter in a four-page letter addressed to the judge, where he highlighted a series of developments since her elevation to the High Court in March 2022.

According to the letter, Kejriwal noted that shortly after her appointment, her son was listed as a Group A counsel for the Supreme Court in September 2022. He further stated that her children have been awarded numerous government legal positions, which raises questions about potential bias in their assignments.

“Your Ladyship was elevated to the High Court of Delhi in March 2022. A little over five months later, in September 2022, your son was empanelled as the Union’s Group A counsel for the Supreme Court,” Kejriwal wrote in the correspondence. He urged that these developments are, at the very least, troubling, as they may create a perception of impropriety.

Justice Sharma has reportedly declined to step back from the case, despite Kejriwal's appeals both in person and virtually over the course of the past week. The politician has voiced concerns about the implications of her children working as advocates for the government, asserting that such affiliations could compromise the integrity of the judicial process.

Kejriwal articulated that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the excise policy case against him, is the one who assigns cases to Justice Sharma's children. He pointed out that as a result, their ability to take on more cases could lead to significant financial gains for them.

He emphasised that her son's receipt of what he described as an “extraordinarily high” number of dockets—from 2023 to 2025—positions him among the top ten counsels in terms of case assignments. Kejriwal conveyed that each docket yields a daily appearance fee that could lead to substantial financial remuneration.

The judge's children have not publicly addressed the allegations made by Kejriwal. This is not the first occasion on which the Delhi Chief Minister has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest regarding Justice Sharma's familial connections. In a previous statement, he highlighted similar fears in an affidavit requesting her recusal from the proceedings.

In response, Justice Sharma has stated that Kejriwal's logic regarding her family would effectively disqualify numerous judges throughout India from hearing matters involving governmental or political parties. She insisted that unless it can be demonstrated how these familial ties directly affect the current case, such claims cannot stand.

Following her refusal to recuse herself, Kejriwal mentioned he is contemplating an appeal to the Supreme Court concerning the decisions made by Justice Sharma in the ongoing matter. His refusal to attend court—whether in person or through legal representation—signals his escalating concerns around the fairness and integrity of the judicial process in his case relating to an alleged excise policy violation.