Delhi High Court Judge Steps Aside from Karti Chidambaram's Visa Scam Petition
In a significant development in the ongoing alleged Chinese visa scam case, Delhi High Court judge Justice Girish Kathpalia on Friday recused himself from hearing the petition filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram. The judge cited "personal reasons" for his decision to step aside from the matter.
Judge's Statement and Case Transfer
Justice Kathpalia explicitly stated during the proceedings, "I don't think I would be able to hear this. Subject to orders of the learned judge in charge, criminal side, list before some other bench for personal reasons." This declaration was reported by news agency PTI and marks the third instance of judicial recusal in this high-profile case.
The matter has now been rescheduled for hearing on January 28, where it will be presented before a different bench of the Delhi High Court.
Pattern of Judicial Recusals
Justice Kathpalia's decision follows a pattern established by two other Delhi High Court judges who previously recused themselves from hearing the same case:
- Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed on January 15 that the matter be placed before another bench
- Justice Anup J Bhambani passed a similar order just four days later on January 19
This series of recusals adds a layer of complexity to the legal proceedings surrounding the controversial case.
Background of Justice Kathpalia
Justice Girish Kathpalia was sworn in as a Delhi High Court judge in July 2024. This is not the first time he has recused himself from a case involving similar matters. In September 2025, he had previously stepped aside from another case, having dealt with the same subject matter during his tenure as a principal district and sessions judge.
Karti Chidambaram's Legal Challenge
In his petition, Karti Chidambaram - the Lok Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga constituency and son of Congress veteran and former Union minister P Chidambaram - has challenged the framing of charges against him. The charges include allegations of corruption and conspiracy in the case, which is currently being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The petition argues that the trial court "did not apply its judicial mind to the material and documents on record, completely ignoring evidence and statements of witnesses that demonstrate the absence of criminality."
Case Background and Charges
The legal controversy stems from events dating back to 2011, when Karti Chidambaram's father P Chidambaram served as the Union Home Minister. The case involves alleged bribery in facilitating visas for Chinese nationals working on the Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) project.
- In December last year, a trial court ordered the framing of charges for criminal conspiracy and corruption against Karti Chidambaram and six other individuals
- The CBI filed a chargesheet in October 2024 against Karti Chidambaram and others in connection with the alleged visa irregularities
- The central agency initiated its probe after registering an FIR in 2022, following a two-year investigation
Project Details and Allegations
The case revolves around the Punjab-based TSPL's project to set up a 1,980 MW thermal power plant. The company had outsourced work to the Chinese firm Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (SEPCO), necessitating visas for Chinese personnel. The CBI's investigation alleges improper facilitation of these visas during the period when P Chidambaram headed the Home Ministry.
The repeated judicial recusals in this politically sensitive case highlight the complexities surrounding the legal proceedings, with multiple judges now having stepped aside from hearing the matter as it continues to navigate through the Delhi High Court's judicial system.
