Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared before the Delhi High Court on Monday to request that Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma step aside from hearing a corruption appeal linked to the city's controversial excise policy, arguing there was a "real, grave and reasonable apprehension" of bias that could prevent him from receiving a fair hearing. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is pursuing the appeal against Kejriwal in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi's now-scrapped liquor licensing policy, a case that has dominated Indian political headlines for years. The Indian federal government opposed the recusal bid, calling the allegations "contemptuous" and urging the court to dismiss the application and impose costs on the petitioner.