After CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Justice A K Sikri, the second senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the Centre's decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director.

Justice Sikri, who had represented CJI Gogoi on the high-powered committee headed by PM Narendra Modi, that controversially removed Alok Verma as CBI director, did not give any specific reason for withdrawing from hearing the case. "You understand my position. I can't hear this matter," Justice Sikri said.