Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday recused herself from hearing a petition filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram in connection with an alleged bribery case involving Diageo Scotland.
Chidambaram has approached the High Court under its writ jurisdiction seeking quashing of the FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the matter.When the case was listed for hearing, Justice Sharma declined to hear the matter and directed that it be placed before another Bench.The matter is now likely to be listed in July.
The Court also indicated that a connected petition filed by Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, arising out of the same CBI FIR will be heard by a different Bench.As per the prosecution case, the CBI has alleged that Chidambaram received illegal gratification from Diageo Scotland in return for facilitating the lifting of a liquor import ban in 2005, when his father P Chidambaram was serving as the Union Finance Minister.
The FIR invokes offences under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, relating to criminal conspiracy, and Section 420, dealing with cheating. Charges have also been framed under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, indicating alleged abuse of official position and receipt of undue advantage.
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