New Delhi, April 13 -- The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order after hearing extensive arguments from all parties on pleas seeking recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in the CBI's excise policy case, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, strongly opposing the applications as "frivolous, vexatious and not bona fide."

Opening the opposition, Mehta argued that permitting such pleas would set a dangerous precedent, effectively allowing litigants to choose benches by casting aspersions on judges. "It is very easy to say the matter be sent to another judge, but look at the precedent it sets," he submitted, warning that routine recusal on such grounds would make it difficult for any...