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New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will visit the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office today for questioning in the liquor policy matter. Sisodia is expected to reach the CBI headquarters at Lodhi Road in central Delhi at 11 am.
CBI has called Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia for questioning on 19 February. AAP leader, Sisodia is also the Finance Minister of Delhi. He had sought a week’s time citing his busy schedule as he was preparing the Delhi budget. The CBI accepted his request.
Sisodia has said that he will “fully cooperate” with the central agency. However, the BJP’s Delhi unit termed Sisodia’s request as an “excuse”. Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said in a statement, “If the budget was an excuse, then their aim is to run away from the questions.”
Sisodia and others faced corruption charges in bringing a new liquor sale policy in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had ordered a CBI inquiry last year.
After this, the Delhi government reverted to the old liquor policy and blamed the Lieutenant Governor for the loss of revenue running into crores of rupees.
The BJP said the Delhi government went back to the old liquor sale policy by Sisodia to cover up corruption in the excise department. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against seven people in the charge sheet of the liquor policy case.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday claimed that his sources have confirmed that his deputy will be arrested on Sunday by the CBI. “The CBI has called Manish Sisodia for questioning. Our sources are saying that he will be arrested on Sunday… It is very sad,” Kejriwal said ABP Network’s ‘Ideas of India’ Summit.
Hailing Sisodia for improving the education system in Delhi, Kejriwal said, “Manish is the person, who after 75 years of independence has given hope to the poor people of this country that their children can also have a good future. Today in Delhi, the children of the poor are becoming doctors, engineers and lawyers. Manish Sisodia has given a lot of hope to them.”
Manish Sisodia said the CBI summons was the BJP’s method even after failing in its attempt to get the nominated members to vote.
