Advertisement
New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi government has been summoned by the CBI in the liquor policy case. The CBI has called him for questioning on 26 February.
On this Manish Sisodia has said that he will definitely go before the CBI.Earlier, Sisodia had requested the CBI to defer his questioning in the excise policy case till the last week of February as he was busy finalizing Delhi’s budget.
Officials said the central probe agency accepted Sisodia’s request for deferment of the questioning.Sisodia on Sunday alleged that the BJP was using the probe agency to “take revenge” on him and feared that he would be arrested. Officials said Sisodia was called for questioning on Sunday, nearly three months after the charge sheet was filed in the case. Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio of the Delhi government, said he would be available for questioning after a week.
The Deputy CM told reporters, “I have written to the CBI and sought time till the last week of February, as I am finalizing Delhi’s budget and this is a crucial time. I have told them that I will come after the last week of February. “He said,” It is my duty as Finance Minister to present the budget on time and I am working day and night for that. I have requested CBI to allow me to answer questions after the last week of February.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s order to issue a notice for the first meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to fix the date for the election of the mayor, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sisodia said, “First the BJP elections She lost and then on Friday she had to face the Supreme Court as well. So this is her revenge.” He alleged, “She (BJP) is using the CBI to take revenge. I am sure she will do this by getting me arrested.
Sisodia said, “I have always cooperated with the CBI and am ready to cooperate this time too, but I am just asking for some time as I am finalizing the budget. If I go (to the CBI) now, the budget will be affected, the people of Delhi will be affected.” Claiming that he was not afraid of being arrested or sent to jail, the Deputy Chief Minister said, I want time to do this and I have answers to all the questions of CBI.
Sisodia, who is also looking after the work of the Excise Department, was earlier questioned in this matter on October 17 last year and his house and bank locker were searched. Sisodia has been named as an accused in the charge sheet and the investigation against him and other suspects is still on. It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy of granting licenses to liquor traders favored some dealers who allegedly paid bribes for the same. The Aam Aadmi Party has consistently denied this allegation.
