CBI arrests Manish Sisodia in DELHI LIQUOR excise policy case

Ending the day-long suspense, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy case, after eight hours of questioning.
The much-talked-about arrest came following the alleged ‘non-cooperation’ of Sisodia. Sources said that CBI found the Deputy Chief Minister was avoiding important questions and to some extent was also misguiding the agency.
Sources further said Sisodia failed to explain at least six contentious provisions in the liquor policy that were not part of the first draft. The agency, sources said, has the statement of an excise department officer who revealed the role of Sisodia in tweaking the drafts. Forensic tests of laptops have revealed that the provisions came from external sources, sources said.
Sisodia and others face corruption allegations linked to a liquor sale policy in Delhi. The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing of the 2021 policy, for which kickbacks to the tune of ₹ 100 crore were paid by a liquor lobby which was called as “South Group”.
The policy would have led to a 12 per cent profit for them, of which 6 per cent was routed to public servants through middlemen, the agency claimed. The Enforcement Directorate has also launched an investigation, alleging laundering of the kickbacks. After the policy was scrapped, the BJP said the Delhi government went back to the old liquor policy to cover up the corruption.
Earlier on Sunday morning, shortly before arriving at the CBI office for questioning, Sisodia said false cases are being lodged against leaders of the ruling party as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “afraid” of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “Conspiracies are being hatched by the CBI and ED and false cases being lodged against our party leaders because PM Narendra Modi is afraid of CM Arvind Kejriwal’s rising popularity. As AAP grows further, BJP will continue to slap false cases on us. We are not afraid of the CBI, ED and their false cases,” Sisodia said, claiming that people were starting to regard the AAP as an alternative to the BJP. He said that the PM, while not afraid of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, was scared of the AAP. “Everyone says that only AAP will rid the country of the BJP in future. Modi-ji may not be scared of Rahul Gandhi but if there’s one party that he is scared, it is the AAP. They will put me in jail, but we are not afraid. We will fight. Kejriwal is the only future leader of this country,” Sisodia said, addressing supporters at Raj Ghat. He further appealed to Arvind Kejriwal to “keep fighting” for the welfare of the people. “I want to tell Kejriwal-ji, please continue with what are you doing. Keep fighting for the welfare of the people,” Sisodia said. Earlier, the CBI had asked Sisodia to appear for questioning on 19 February. On last Sunday, Sisodia requested the central agency to defer questioning saying that he is “preparing the budget” at present and can only appear before it towards February-end. However, Sisodia has not been named an accused in the chargesheet filed in the case. Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek are among the seven accused named in the chargesheet. In August last year, the CBI searched Sisodia’s bank locker in connection with the case. The deputy CM claimed the sleuths did not find any incriminating material in his locker. Several raids were conducted at 21 places in Delhi and the National Capital Region, including Sisodia’s residence, and the premises of four public servants last year, according to a CBI officer, who further said that the raids were conducted across 7 states. The CBI launched a probe in the matter on the basis of a report forwarded by the Delhi chief secretary to L-G Saxena recommending a probe by the central agency.