Arvind Kejriwal scared of Manish Sisodia’s popularity, could have informed CBI: BJP’s big claim after raids
In a snide attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP has claimed that party chief Arvind Kejriwal may have tipped the CBI off about alleged corruption by his deputy Manish Sisodia with regards to the new excise policy in Delhi.
CBI sleuths arrived at Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s home on Friday morning to conduct searches as it investigates the excise policy case. The raids became a major flashpoint as the AAP alleged the agency was acting on orders “from above”.
Addressing a press conference, BJP MP Pravesh Verma refuted the AAP’c charge of political vendetta and said, “It is possible that Arvind Kejriwal is the CBI informer and is the one giving all inside information.”
Verma went on to claim that Kejriwal may have felt threatened by Sisodia and former minister Satyendar Jain’s growing popularity and wanted them out of his way. He also asserted that it won’t be long before the AAP convenor also ends up in jail.
“Sisodia, Jain can’t go to toilet without Kejriwal’s permission. Now, Satyendar Jain is in jail for three months, there are so many corruption allegations against Manish Sisodia. How long can Kejriwal remain free himself?”
The BJP leader went on to allege, “Arvind Kejriwal is a mastermind. He does not sign any papers because he doesn’t have any department with him. Whenever there is corruption, Arvind Kejriwal takes the spoils and sends his ministers to jail to show how honest he is,” the BJP leader alleged.
Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has come out in support of Manish Sisodia in the wake of the CBI raids at his residence. Kejriwal said this wasn’t the first instance of false cases being lodged against his deputy and that this time, too, there will be no wrongdoing found.
“Many obstacles will be created in our path in our mission. This is not the first raid on Sisodia, there were raids in the past too. There have also been raids on many of our ministers and me also but nothing came out of those and nothing will come out this time as well,” he said at an online briefing.
Hailing Sisodia as the world’s best education minister, Kejriwal also held up a front page story about “Delhi’s education revolution” in the New York Times. The AAP leader holds multiple portfolios, including excise and education.
The searches at Manish Sisodia’s home, the residence of IAS officer and former excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and 19 other places came after the CBI registered an FIR for alleged irregularities in the formulation and execution of the Delhi Excise Policy brought out in November last year.
The searches covered seven states and union territories. The premises of two other public servants were also searched.
IRREGULARITIES IN EXCISE POLICY 2021-22
The CBI inquiry was recommended on the findings of the Delhi chief secretary’s report filed in July showing prima facie violations of the GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR)-1993, Delhi Excise Act-2009 and Delhi Excise Rules-2010.
According to officials, the report had shown prima facie violations, including “deliberate and gross procedural lapses”, to provide post-tender “undue benefits to liquor licensees” through the policy.
It is alleged that undue financial favours were extended to liquor licensees after the tenders were awarded, causing loss to the exchequer.
