Sheel Nagu recuses from Punjab appeal against CBI investigation

The Supreme Court judge withdrew Oct. 9 from Punjab’s challenge to an order for a CBI investigation. The case concerns corruption allegations linked to the chief minister’s office.

The appeal will be reassigned to another bench by India’s chief justice, The Hindu reported. Sheel Nagu headed the Punjab and Haryana High Court before joining the Supreme Court.

At the Oct. 8 hearing, Justice Dipankar Datta indicated that his colleague might need to recuse. Nagu had not yet received the file and was to review it before deciding. The following day, the court announced his withdrawal.

Punjab is challenging a High Court direction to investigate allegations raised by the Enforcement Directorate. They concern alleged irregularities involving postings and transfers, policy changes and tender awards. These remain matters for investigation, rather than judicial findings of corruption.

The state argues that the High Court wrongly treated information shared under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as making case registration inevitable. Its appeal invokes the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary.

The High Court ordered the investigation Oct. 5, saying a fair and transparent inquiry was required. Lawyer Nikhil Saraf brought the petition, arguing that no action had followed Enforcement Directorate communications to the state government.