New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested Sunday night by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after he was questioned for about 9 hours in reference to alleged corruption within the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor coverage within the nationwide capital.
Sisodia, who was accused No. 1 within the first info report (FIR) registered by the company, was not amongst them the seven individuals in opposition to whom the CBI filed its first cost sheet in November final yr.
An official mentioned Sisodia’s solutions throughout interrogation have been discovered to not be passable.
“The Dy CM was issued a discover u/s 41A Cr.P.C for attending the investigation on 19.02.2023. Nonetheless, he sought time of 1 week citing his pre-occupation. Accepting his request, he was issued a discover u/s 41A Cr.P.C for attending the investigation at the moment (on 26.02.2023) for answering numerous questions evaded by him throughout his examination on 17.10.2022 and additional questions referring to his incriminating position based mostly on proof collected throughout investigation of the case,” the CBI mentioned in an official assertion after Sisodia’s arrest.
“Nonetheless, he gave evasive replies and didn’t co-operate the investigation regardless of being confronted with proof on the contrary. Due to this fact, he has been arrested,” it added.
The Delhi deputy CM might be produced in courtroom Monday morning, the investigative company mentioned.
Sisodia is presently lodged on the CBI headquarters, the place the safety has been stepped up.
Part 144 was imposed and elaborate safety preparations have been made outdoors the company’s workplace and the deputy CM’s home, at the same time as he was being questioned. Members of the Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) protested within the morning and several other leaders and employees have been detained. In response to the Delhi Police, 50 individuals have been detained.
Earlier within the day, Sisodia mentioned that he would absolutely cooperate with the CBI, which had summoned him for questioning, asserting that he didn’t care if he needed to go to jail over “false allegations”.
In a tweet in Hindi, he mentioned: “As we speak, I’m going to the CBI. Will absolutely cooperate within the probe. I’ve the love of lakhs of youngsters and crores of countrymen with me. Even when I’ve to go to jail for a couple of months, I don’t care. We’re followers of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh died for the nation. If I’ve to go to jail over such false allegations, it’s a small factor.”
Quickly after the arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that Sisodia is “harmless”.
मनीष बेक़सूर हैं। उनकी गिरफ़्तारी गंदी राजनीति है। मनीष की गिरफ़्तारी से लोगों में बहुत रोष है। लोग सब देख रहे हैं। लोगों को सब समझ आ रहा है। लोग इसका जवाब देंगे।
इस से हमारे हौसले और बढ़ेंगे। हमारा संघर्ष और मज़बूत होगा।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2023
He had additionally posted a collection of tweets on his deputy earlier within the day. Talking at an occasion Friday, he had mentioned: “The CBI has known as Manish Sisodia for questioning. Our sources are saying that he might be arrested on Sunday… It is extremely unhappy.”
We’ll maintain ur household Manish, don’t fear. https://t.co/ZoTQIpMOCr
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 26, 2023
The CBI mentioned Sunday night: “The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested Dy Chief Minister of GNCTD, Delhi in an ongoing investigation of a case associated to alleged irregularities in framing & implementation of the excise coverage of GNCTD. The moment case was registered in opposition to Deputy Chief Minister & In cost Excise Minister, GNCTD of Delhi and 14 others for investigation into the matter of alleged irregularities in framing & implementation of Excise Coverage for the yr 2021-22 and lengthening submit tender advantages to personal individuals.”
Additionally Learn: ‘Rs 100 cr kickbacks, cartels & Facetime name with Kejriwal’: ED chargesheet in liquor rip-off case
‘Darkish day’, say AAP leaders
Earlier within the day, distinguished AAP leaders issued statements on the upcoming arrest, defending Sisodia, and attacking the BJP.
Talking at a press convention Sunday, AAP chief and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha mentioned: “Your entire nation is conscious that solely Arvind Kejriwal can defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi within the electoral battle and that’s the reason the BJP is making all attainable makes an attempt to make use of the CBI and ED to assault AAP leaders corresponding to Manish Sisodia.”
He added that every one the allegations in opposition to Sisodia are baseless and the one purpose he’s being focused is that the BJP desires to “end off” Kejriwal.
MCD Mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi accused the BJP of making an attempt to stop AAP from changing into in style throughout the nation beneath the management of Arvind Kejriwal. She described the CBI enquiry in opposition to Sisodia as a “ploy to arrest him as a way to decelerate the revolution of CM Arvind Kejriwal”. She mentioned at the moment was as a “darkish day” in India’s historical past as an “trustworthy training minister of a clear authorities” was arrested.
AAP MLA Shri Dilip Pandey described the allegations in opposition to Shri Manish Sisodia as a “pack of jokes” and accused the BJP of attacking the 18 lakh households in Delhi who’ve entrusted the way forward for their kids to him.
The Enforcement Directorate, which is probing allegations of cash laundering based mostly on the CBI FIR, additionally didn’t identify Sisodia as an accused in its supplementary chargesheet. Nonetheless, his position has been talked about. The ED’s second cost sheet mentions that accused individuals and suspects together with Sisodia used telephones and SIM playing cards bought on different individuals’s names to evade suspicion.
The case
The CBI had registered an FIR final yr, to probe alleged irregularities within the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Coverage launched in November 2021.
It adopted up with raids in Sisodia’s workplace and residential, among the many 21 areas in seven states it searched. Sisodia holds the Finance portfolio amongst others of the ruling Aam Aadmi Get together authorities in Delhi.
It’s alleged that undue monetary favours have been prolonged to liquor licensees after tenders have been awarded, which precipitated a loss to the exchequer.
It’s additional alleged that the excise division waived off Rs 144.36 crore to licensees on the tendered licence charge — making COVID an excuse.
The probe company has claimed the federal government refunded the earnest cash of Rs 30 crore to the bottom bidder for the licence of the airport zone when it did not acquire a no-objection certificates (NOC) from airport authorities.
The CBI inquiry was beneficial on the findings of the Delhi Chief Secretary’s report filed in July final yr which apparently highlighted prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, the Transaction of Enterprise Guidelines (ToBR)-1993, the Delhi Excise Act-2009 and the Delhi Excise Guidelines-2010, they mentioned.
Delhi Lieutenant Basic V.Okay. Saxena then beneficial a CBI probe into the Arvind Kejriwal authorities’s Excise Coverage 2021-22, which has since been withdrawn.
Sukriti Vats contributed to this report.
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