A Delhi High Court judge has recused himself from hearing a plea filed by Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, seeking to quash a First Information Report (FIR) registered against him. The development took place on Monday, April 28, 2026, when the matter was listed before the bench.
Background of the Case
Karti Chidambaram approached the high court challenging the FIR lodged on January 1, 2025. In his petition, he alleged that there was a "gross delay" in the registration of the FIR, which he termed "illegal" and motivated by "political vendetta and regime revenge." The FIR pertains to alleged irregularities in a business transaction, though specific details remain under wraps.
Recusal of the Judge
The judge, whose name has not been disclosed, recused himself from the case without citing any specific reason. Such recusals are common in the judiciary to maintain impartiality, especially when there may be a conflict of interest or perception of bias. The matter will now be listed before another bench for hearing.
Legal Arguments
Senior advocates representing Karti argued that the FIR was filed with malafide intent, pointing to the significant time gap between the alleged incident and the registration of the case. They contended that the delay itself indicated ulterior motives. The prosecution, however, maintained that the investigation was at an early stage and the court should not interfere at this juncture.
Next Steps
With the judge recusing himself, the high court registry will assign the case to a new bench. The hearing is expected to resume in the coming weeks. Legal experts suggest that the recusal may delay the proceedings but does not impact the merits of the case.
