Judge recuses from hearing of advocate accused of rape

A Delhi High Court judge on Thursday said he would recuse himself and transfer to another bench the anticipatory bail and FIR-quashing petitions filed by a 51-year-old advocate accused of repeatedly raping and assaulting a 27-year-old woman lawyer, saying that hearing the pleas would amount to reviewing his own order.

- Shruti Kakkar

Justice Amit Mahajan said he had already cancelled the advocate’s anticipatory bail on November 7 and that there was no change in circumstances warranting reconsideration. He told senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, appearing for the accused, that he would otherwise dismiss both petitions.