Sisodia Arrested in Delhi Liquor Scam; AAP to Hit Streets Across India in Protest Today

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested on Sunday evening after eight hours of questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the national capital in connection with the excise policy case.

The senior AAP leader was arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act, CBI sources told CNN-News18.

Sisodia is the second minister from CM Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet to be arrested after Satyendar Jain. The Deputy CM will be presented to the court on Monday.

AAP general secretary Sandeep Pathak said the party will protest across the country against Sisodia’s arrest on Monday.

“The Dy. CM was issued a notice u/s 41A Cr.P.C for attending the investigation on 19.02.2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his pre-occupation. Accepting his request, he was issued a notice u/s 41A Cr.P.C for attending the investigation today (on 26.02.2023) for answering various questions evaded by him during his examination on 17.10.2022 and further questions relating to his incriminating role based on evidence collected during the investigation of the case. However, he gave evasive replies and did not cooperate investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested. The arrested accused will be produced before the Designated Court, Delhi,” the CBI said.

Arvind Kejriwal Meets Sisodia’s Family, Calls Him ‘Honest’

Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann reached Sisodia’s residence and met his family. “We are seeing how honest & nationalist people are getting arrested nationwide. Not only Manish Ji, but whosoever speaks against them, they had them arrested. They don’t want anything to happen without their permission. This is not how democracy works. BJP wants to break the party (AAP),” Kejriwal said.

Arvind Kejriwal said Sisodia is innocent and his arrest is “dirty politics”. “There is a lot of anger among the people due to the arrest of Manish. Everyone is watching. People are understanding everything. People will respond to this. This will boost our spirits further. Our struggle will get stronger,” he said in a tweet.

Sisodia Couldn’t Answer About Crucial Missing Files: CBI Sources

CBI sources told CNN-News18 that Sisodia could not answer when asked about crucial files that have gone missing. “Multiple mobile phones were changed by Sisodia once the investigation began, they could have crucial evidence pertaining to the case. Those mobiles have to be recovered. Witnesses have to be confronted.”

CBI sources further said the arrest was political then it would not have waited for so long. “Section 41A of CrPC provides for custodial interrogation. Flight risk isn’t the only criteria. Fresh evidence emerged in the CBI probe. If this was political then CBI would not have waited for so long. Investigative Officer took a decision based on evidence.”

AAP MLA Sanjay Singh and several other party workers have been detained at Fatehpur Beri police station, police said.

AAP vs BJP After Sisodia’s Arrest

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged Kejriwal tried to open liquor shops near schools and worship places just for corruption and commission.

AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged all agencies are working at the behest of the BJP. “All charges are laughable. Agencies are working according to BJP’s script. They got no evidence against Sisodia and 5 raids later there is no evidence.”

AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha alleged that the Centre has turned into a “dictator” and Sisodia has been arrested to divert attention from the Adani issue.

Addressing a press conference, AAP MLA Atishi said, “I want to tell you that you have arrested Delhi’s education minister and because of this, the truth will become stronger. One day, Sisodia will become the education minister of the country.”

Atishi said Sisodia’s arrest is not linked with any policy or corruption but linked to AAP’s growing popularity due to its work on health and education. “Today, BJP is scared of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia and that’s why, BJP is unleashing its agencies against AAP,” she said.

Atishi said Sisodia changed the face of education in Delhi in the last eight years, gave quality education to poor children, and changed the public opinion about government schools.

After Sisodia’s arrest, Aam Aadmi Party said today is the “black day” for democracy. “BJP’s CBI arrested the world’s best education minister Manish Sisodia in a fake case, who is shaping the future of lakhs of children. BJP has made this arrest due to political rivalry,” AAP Delhi tweeted.

BJP MP Gautam Gambhir tweeted, “Ghalib, where will you go after committing a crime, this land and sky all belong to ‘AAP’ only!”

Aam Aadmi Party will hold a protest at BJP headquarters on Monday around 12 noon.

Several Protesting AAP Workers Detained

Police said section 144 was also imposed in south district to ensure law and order is maintained. Heavy security was deployed outside the CBI headquarters. Police detained several AAP supporters who were staging protests.

Delhi Police detained at least 50 people for raising slogans in support of the deputy chief minister, of which 42 were men and eight were women. “Formalities are being completed to release the woman worker associated with Aam Aadmi Party from Fatehpur Beri police station,” sources said.

The prominent persons among the detainees were — MP Sanjay Singh, MP, Rohit Kumar Mehraulia, MLA Trilok Puri, Dinesh Mohaniya, MLA Sangam Vihar, Kuldeep Singh, MLA Kondli, Sarita Singh, Ex MLA Rohtash Nagar and minister Gopal Rai, police said.

A high-drama also ensued ahead of Sisodia’s questioning. He visited Rajghat and joined several Aam Aadmi Party leaders and supporters where he made an emotional speech. “I am not scared of Jai,” he said alleging that the BJP is scared of CM Kejriwal.

The fresh summons come after a notice was issued to the AAP leader on February 19, but upon his request the CBI questioning was deferred. Sisodia who holds the finance portfolio for the Kejriwal-led Delhi government, cited the ongoing budget exercise for his inability to appear before the probe agency.

Several AAP leaders including Atishi staged a protest in Rajghat and held posters backing Sisodia. Some AAP netas were reportedly kept under house arrest.

Ahead of his questioning, Sisodia tweeted that he will cooperate fully in the entire investigation. He also met his mother before heading to Rajghat.

Speaking at Rajghat, Sisodia said it is a tough and challenging time for him and his party. He also got emotional while speaking about his family and thanked his wife for supporting him through ‘ups and downs’ of life.

“The love of lakhs of children and the blessings of crores of countrymen are with us. I don’t care if I have to stay in jail for a few months. We are followers of Bhagat Singh who sacrificed himself for the country. It is a small thing to go to jail because of such false allegations,” Sisodia earlier said.

Chief Minister Kejriwal responded to Sisodia’s tweet and said, “God is with you Manish. The blessings of lakhs of children and their parents are with you. When you go to jail for the country and society, then going to jail is not a curse, it is a glory. I pray to God that you return from jail soon. Children, parents and we all of Delhi will be waiting for you.”

According to PTI, the CBI has said that it has prepared an exhaustive set of questions for Sisodia on Sunday amid apprehensions of his arrest. “They are using the CBI to take revenge and I am sure they will do that by getting me arrested,” Sisodia alleged.

Armed with confessional statements of Sisodia’s “close associate” Dinesh Arora, and information gleaned from questioning of alleged members of ‘South Lobby’, a coterie of politicians and liquor businessmen who allegedly swung the policy in their favour, the CBI has prepared an elaborate questionnaire for him, the officials told PTI.

The CBI had registered an FIR in August last year against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The federal agency has alleged the Delhi government’s policy to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP.

A group of AAP workers staged demonstrations during protests in support of the Delhi deputy chief minister outside Fatehpur Beri police station and were heard chanting “Modi mar gaya” slogans.

The agency had filed its first charge sheet against seven people on November 25 last year in which Sisodia was not named as an accused.

BRS Condemns ‘undemocratic’ Arrest of Delhi Deputy CM

Telangana’s ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) condemned the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia terming it an “undemocratic” move. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday evening in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.

In a statement, BRS Working President K T Rama Rao said the BJP is resorting to “stealth politics” by inciting central agencies against the opposition parties in states where the saffron party cannot come to power.

The political conspiracies of the BJP against the opposition have become a deterrent to democracy in the country and the arrest is the pinnacle of BJP’s achievement politics, he alleged.

(With PTI Inputs)

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