Delhi deputy chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia has been summoned by the CBI for questioning on Monday in the Delhi excise policy case pertaining to corruption in granting liquor licenses in the city.
The scheme came under the scanner after the Delhi LG recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the implementation of Delhi’s Excise Policy 2021-22.
Soon after the fresh CBI summon, AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj held a press conference on Sunday and claimed Manish Sisodia “will be arrested tomorrow”.
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“We understand the fact that Manish Sisodia is being arrested tomorrow not because of liquor scam but because of the upcoming Gujarat elections. Bjp is scared about the programs Manish Sisodia has over the next one month and hence is arresting him,” Saurabh Bhardwaj said.
Reacting to the summon, Manish Sisodia tweeted, “CBI raid was conducted at my house for 14 hours, nothing came out. Searched my bank locker, nothing came out in it. They did not find anything in my village”.
मेरे घर पर 14 घंटे CBI रेड कराई, कुछ नहीं निकला. मेरा बैंक लॉकर तलाशा, उसमें कुछ नहीं निकला. मेरे गाँव में इन्हें कुछ नहीं मिला.
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) October 16, 2022
अब इन्होंने कल 11 बजे मुझे CBI मुख्यालय बुलाया है. मैं जाऊँगा और पूरा सहयोग करूँगा.
सत्यमेव जयते.
“Now they have called me to CBI headquarters at 11 am tomorrow. I will go and fully cooperate. Satyameva Jayate,” Sisodia added.
Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal also responded to the CBI summon and said, “Jail bars and hanging noose could not deter Bhagat Singh’s intentions. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish and Satyendar are today’s Bhagat Singh”.
जेल की सलाख़ें और फाँसी का फंदा भगत सिंह के बुलंद इरादों को डिगा नहीं पाये
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 16, 2022
ये आज़ादी की दूसरी लड़ाई है।मनीष और सत्येंद्र आज के भगत सिंह है
75 साल बाद देश को एक शिक्षा मंत्री मिला जिसने ग़रीबों को अच्छी शिक्षा देकर सुनहरे भविष्य की उम्मीद दी
करोड़ों ग़रीबों की दुआएँ आपके साथ है https://t.co/slc3lb1Mqp
“After 75 years, the country got an education minister who gave good education to the poor and gave hope for a bright future. Prayers of crores of poor are with you,” Kejriwal said.
Delhi minister Satyendar Jain is under arrest and being probed in an alleged money laundering case.
The CBI, meanwhile made one more arrest in connection with Delhi Excise policy scam case last Sunday. Abhishek Boinpally who was allegedly lobbying for certain liquor businessmen based in Southern India was called for questioning on Sunday (October 9), officials said.
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The CBI found him to be evading certain key questions following which he was taken into custody late last night, they said. Officials said he was allegedly involved in the “cartelization” for “Southern lobby.”
It is the second arrest in the excise scam case after businessman and AAP leader Vijay Nair.
CBI Raid at Manish Sisodia’s Residence
The CBI had conducted raids in the case on August 19, covering the Delhi residences of Manish Sisodia, IAS officer and former Delhi excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, and 19 other locations across seven states and Union Territories.
Notably, Sisodia, who holds multiple portfolios in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, including excise and education, had earlier demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in the policy.
On the day of CBI raid, the Delhi deputy CM had said he has done nothing wrong and added that the CBI is being misused. He said that the CBI team came in the morning, searched his residence and seized his computer and phone.
