Delhi riots case: Accused objects to recusal of judge hearing plea on media leak

North East Delhi riots accused Asif Iqbal Tanha Friday objected to the proposed recusal of a judge hearing his petition against the alleged leak of his claimed disclosure statement in a case pertaining to the larger conspiracy behind the violence after a news broadcasters association filed an application in courtThe application for intervention in the matter is an attempt to overreach the institution argued Tahnas lawyer Siddharth Aggarwal before Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani who suggested sending the plea to another judge on account of his past association with the organisation News Broadcasters amp Digital AssociationEmphasising that the plea has been heard substantially Aggarwal said the application calls for strictest handling as it has been filed with an ulterior motive All that is needed is some misconceived application from this organisation and your lordship will say I will not look at this matter That is exactly what they want he arguedThe senior counsel said he will assist the court on the law of recusal adding This is the dirty tricks department at its worst and if we do not stand up to this I think are making it far too easy for people to do this exerciseJustice Bhambhani said he has no affinity for any matter and his dilemma in the present case was that he cannot even say yes or no to the applicationMy dilemma is that I cant even say yes nor can I say no to this Even that is taking a call on a matter where I have had past associationFrom my perspective I cannot carry on with this matter I have no particular affinity for any matter So I have to recuse he said Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done he saidAggarwal said the petitioner has no apprehension of bias and surely the applicant is not calling for recusal and urged the judge to take a different viewAlso read Delhi Police moves HC against discharge of Sharjeel Imam in 2019 Jamia violence caseWe have a responsibility to this institution which today in this matter is under attack I am conscious of the issue The circumstances of this application even if your lordship takes a call to step aside from this matter calls for a comment This is a matter which calls for strictest of handling he arguedTanha had moved the high court in 2020 against certain media houses disseminating his alleged disclosure statement an admission of guilt before the trial court took cognizance of the charge sheetIn his petition Tanha has said he was aggrieved by various publications reporting that he had confessed to orchestrating the Delhi riots and alleged he was coerced to sign certain papers in the effective custody of policeHe has contended the action of two media houses in placing contents from the charge sheet in the media violated the programme codeTanha who was arrested in May 2020 was released from jail in June 2021 after the high court granted him bail in the riots case related to the larger conspiracy In the status report filed the case police have said while the inquiry could not establish how the details of investigation were shared with media no prejudice was caused to Tanha in the exercise of his right to free and fair trialTanhas counsel had earlier told the high court the internal inquiry conducted by police into the leak was an eyewash The court listed the matter for further hearing on March 15This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever