CBI arrests Delhi deputy CM Sisodia in excise policy case
Was Questioned for Eight Hours Prior To Arrest
- New Delhi: The CBI on Sunday arrested Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the now- scrapped excise policy relating to the sale of alcohol, in a move that could plunge the national capital into a governance crisis and further widen the political rift between the AAP and the BJP- led Central government.
- Sisodia's arrest, one of the highest-profile actions against an opposition leader, comes after that of Satyendra Jain, Delhi's the then health minister, in June last year. Both ministers have led what the Aam Aadmi Party describes as the successful transformation of Delhi's education and health services, contributing to the party's popularity and continued
- Their absence in the government would leave Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal with no heavyweight lieutenant to implement his governance agenda in Delhi.
- Sisodia was arrested after nearly eight hours of questioning on various aspects of the excise policy for 2021-22, which the probe agency says suffered from irregularities both in its formulation and implementation, allegedly intended to benefit people with links to the AAP.
- The CBI investigators were not satisfied with Sisodia's answers, an agency official said, adding he was not cooperating in the investigation and avoided clarifications sought on crucial points.
- "He gave evasive replies and did not cooperate in the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested," the CBI said in a statement.
- Reacting to Sisodia's arrest, Kejriwal said the deputy chief minister was innocent and his arrest was "dirty politics".
- "Manish is innocent. His arrest is dirty politics. His arrest has angered people quite a lot: People are watching everything. People now understand everything and will give reply to this. It will boost our spirit and our struggle will only get stronger," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
- In a statement, the CBI said Sisodia was issued a notice under CPC section 41A to attend the investigation on February 19.