The Indian Express reported that Justice Akil Kureshi had recused himself, following the recusals of Justices M R Shah, Anant Dave, R H Shukla, Sonia Gokani, G B Shah and K S Jhaveri in the appeals of 2002-Naroda Patiya massacre convicts, including ex-BJP minister Maya Kodnani. Kureshi had recused himself after advocate BB Naik, who is related to the judge, had joined the case, though Naik said that he had filed his vakalatnama a long time ago:

“It is very painful. We will not say anything but it tarnishes the image of the institution and confidence of people… this should not have happened. I am bound by the court… I have no interest in this case,” Justice Kureshi said after dictating the order in open court... “When such large number of litigants are involved who are represented by large number of advocates, somewhere or the other it is bound to happen that one out of the two judges of the bench may not be taking up the cases of at least one out of the several advocates appearing. Particularly, when the appearance is made by the senior advocate at late a stage, we wonder would it not have been better if the advocate had recused rather than to request the court to do so.”

“These appeals have a history of several learned judges of this court recusing themselves from hearing due to one reason or the other.”

Hat-tip to @SochoJara via Twitter.