Liquor Scam-CBI did not interrogate Sisodia: Deputy CM had said- I am busy with the budget

Liquor Scam-CBI did not interrogate Sisodia: Deputy CM had said- I am busy with the budget, expressed apprehension- arrest could have taken place today

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:48 PM (IST)
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Liquor Scam-CBI did not interrogate Sisodia: Deputy CM had said- I am busy with the budget

Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has made a big claim. He said that I could have been arrested today. I had apprehension since morning that BJP would get me arrested, but I am not afraid of arrest nor am I running away from CBI questions. I will answer every question of CBI.
Actually, Sisodia was called by the CBI today for questioning in the liquor scam case, but he did not turn up. He said that preparations for Delhi Budget 2023-24 are going on and I am busy with this work. So give me a week's time.
At the same time, CBI has given relief to Sisodia for today. Officials said a second summons would be issued soon for questioning.
Manish Sisodia said in the matter that I had received the CBI notice yesterday and called for questioning today itself. Presently I am engaged in the work of preparing the budget of Delhi. There should be no delay in the budget work, so every single day is important for me. I want that it should not affect the work of the budget.
Sisodia had informed by tweeting on Saturday that he has been called by the CBI for questioning. Sisodia had said- CBI and ED have put full force against me, raids at home, and bank locker searches, but nothing has been found against me so far. Sisodia has said that my mistake is that I have only made arrangements for good education for the children of Delhi. BJP people want to stop the education of children. I have always cooperated with the investigation and will continue to do so.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said in the matter that nothing like a liquor scam happened in Delhi. It is a political issue created by the opposition party. Till now CBI and ED have not found anything in the investigation.
CBI officials said that about three months after filing the charge sheet in the Delhi Excise Policy case, Deputy CM Sisodia has been called for questioning. However, he has not been named as an accused in the charge sheet.
The CBI has registered an FIR against 15 people, including Sisodia, on the basis of information sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs from the office of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, regarding the confusion in the liquor policy. The agency has alleged that the accused government officials, including Sisodia, framed the excise policy without obtaining approval from the competent authority. Its purpose was to give undue advantage to the businessmen after the tender. In the case, the CBI has named 15 people including Manish Sisodia as accused in the FIR.
In 2020, the Delhi government talked about bringing a new liquor policy. In May 2020, the Delhi government brought a new liquor policy to the assembly, which was implemented in November 2021. In this, keeping the rules on hold, it was accused of distributing licenses at the behest of Sisodia's close ones.

Muskan Kumawat Journalist & Writer