Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recuses from Karti Chidambaram’s plea in Diageo Scotland case
[28/04, 13:44] sekarreporter1: Delhi High Court Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recuses from Karti Chidambaram’s plea in Diageo Scotland case
[28/04, 13:44] Meta AI: *Delhi High Court – Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma Recuses in Karti Chidambaram Diageo Case*
*Judge*: Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
*Case*: Karti Chidambaram’s plea in _Diageo Scotland corruption case_
*Date*: Recusal on 15 Jan 2026 8c24
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*1. What’s the Diageo Scotland Case?*
*CBI Allegation*: Karti Chidambaram gave relief to Diageo Scotland over a ban imposed by ITDC on duty-free sale of its whisky in India. cc41
*FIR Claims*:
1. ITDC banned Diageo Group’s duty-free products in April 2005 → huge loss to Diageo
2. Suspicious payment made to _Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd_ (ASCPL), “controlled” by Karti + aide S Bhaskararaman, by Diageo Scotland
3. FIR registered Jan 2025 for alleged 2004-2010 period cc41f2f8
*Karti’s Plea*: Moved Delhi HC to quash CBI FIR – argued “gross delay”, “political vendetta”, no public servant named ce03f2f8
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*2. Recusal Details*
1. *15 Jan 2026*: Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused from hearing Karti’s plea
2. *Reason*: “Personal reasons” – no specific reason stated in order. Directed matter to be placed before another bench 8c24abaa
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*3. Pattern of Recusals in Karti Cases*
Justice Sharma is the *second judge to recuse* in Karti’s cases recently:
**Case** **Judges Who Recused**
**Chinese Visa Scam** 1. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma – 15 Jan 2026
2. Justice Anup J Bhambhani – 19 Jan 2026
3. Justice Girish Kathpalia – 23 Jan 2026
**Diageo Scotland Case** Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma – 15 Jan 2026
8c241126
*Note*: In Chinese visa case, Justice Kathpalia said _“I don’t think I would be able to hear this”_ for personal reasons 8c24
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*4. Diageo Case Status*
– *Trial Court*: On 10 Jan 2025, ordered CBI to give 3 days written notice before arrest
– *HC Hearing*: Deferred to 12 Aug 2025 before Justice Ravinder Dudeja
– *Karti’s Claim*: ASCPL is separate legal entity, he’s neither shareholder nor director f2f8ce03
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*Bottom Line*: Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma recused from Karti’s Diageo plea on 15 Jan 2026, citing personal reasons. She’d earlier also recused from his Chinese visa scam case. 3 Delhi HC judges have now recused from Karti’s Chinese visa matter. 1126
Recusals are common when judges cite “personal reasons” – no inference of bias. Case moves to another bench.
Want details on what the Chinese visa scam charges are?
