Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced he will no longer participate in court proceedings related to his case, citing a lack of faith in the fairness of the process. In a letter to Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court, Kejriwal stated that the proceedings do not satisfy the principle that justice must be seen to be done.

Kejriwal alleged that Justice Sharma has ties to a right-wing Hindu nationalist group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which he and his party oppose ideologically. He also pointed to a conflict of interest due to the judge's family members serving on government legal panels while the central government is an opposing party in his case.

The former chief minister said the rejection of his earlier recusal plea deepened his concerns, making it impossible to expect an impartial hearing. He stressed that his participation would not achieve anything meaningful under these circumstances.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms and rain in Delhi on April 28-29, offering some respite from the severe heatwave. The capital recorded a maximum temperature of 42.1 degrees Celsius on Monday, with temperatures expected to drop by 4-6 degrees over the next three days.

Several states in northern India have experienced temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Odisha. In Akola, Maharashtra, the mercury reached a scorching 46.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The IMD warned that scorching conditions would continue over parts of northwest and central India for the next three days.

Source: www.dw.com