Bhatt was slapped with Indian Penal Code Sections of murder, causing grievous hurt, criminal Intimidation and abetment.
As a High Court judge, Justice Shah had in 2011 refused to set aside a trial court ruling that had rejected an application for deferment of framing of charges in the case.
“…the petitioner verily apprehending that the ends of justice will not meet if the present Special Leave Petition is being heard by the same judge. In the circumstance it is most humbly prayed that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to consider recusing him from hearing the Special Leave Petition,” Bhatt stated in his letter to the Supreme Court seeking recusal of Justice Shah.
In January, Senior Advocate Devadatt Kamat, appearing for Bhatt, had told the Supreme Court that the issue was about apprehension of bias, to which the Bench replied saying that a reasonable nexus has to be proved.
Source: Barandbench
