New Delhi: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested Sunday evening by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after he was questioned for about nine hours in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped liquor policy in the national capital.
Sisodia, who was accused No. 1 in the first information report (FIR) registered by the agency, was not among them the seven people against whom the CBI filed its first charge sheet in November last year.
An official said Sisodia’s answers during interrogation were found not to be satisfactory.
“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 investigation of the case,” the CBI said in an official statement after Sisodia’s arrest.
However, he gave evasive replies and did not co-operate the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested,” it added.
The Delhi deputy CM will be produced in court Monday morning, the investigative agency said.
Sisodia is currently lodged at the CBI headquarters, where the security has been stepped up.
Section 144 was imposed and elaborate security arrangements were made outside the agency’s office and the deputy CM’s house, even as he was being questioned. Members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) protested in the morning and several leaders and workers were detained. According to the Delhi Police, 50 people were detained.
Earlier in the day, Sisodia said that he would fully cooperate with the CBI, which had summoned him for questioning, asserting that he did not care if he had to go to jail over “false allegations”.
In a tweet in Hindi, he said: “Today, I am going to the CBI. Will fully cooperate in the probe. I have the love of lakhs of children and crores of countrymen with me. Even if I have to go to jail for a few months, I do not care. We are followers of Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh died for the country. If I have to go to jail over such false allegations, it is a small thing.”
Soon after the arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that Sisodia is “innocent”. (Agencies)
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