Arvind Kejriwal accused BJP for the interrogation AAP faced throughout the “fake liquor policy case”
On 17 April 2024, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was interrogated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for over 9 hours to investigate his involvement in an alleged liquor scam. The investigation pertains to irregularities in the issuing of licenses for the sale of liquor in Delhi.
Kejriwal arrived at the CBI headquarters in the morning and was questioned by the agency’s officials for most of the day. The CBI had summoned the Chief Minister to record his statement in connection with the case. “They ask about everything, including enforcing the liquor laws. “They asked nearly 56 questions from the beginning of 2020 till the end,” he said.
Chief Minister After the Interrogation
The case was registered by the CBI in 2022, following a complaint by the Delhi government’s Vigilance Department. The complaint alleged that certain officials in the Delhi government had colluded with liquor traders and issued licenses in violation of norms.
Kejriwal had earlier denied any wrongdoing in the matter and had accused the CBI of targeting him and his government. He had also alleged that the investigation was politically motivated.
After the questioning, Kejriwal addressed the media and reiterated that he had not done anything wrong. “I cooperated with the CBI on the investigation, I answered all their questions as I have nothing to hide,” he said and thanked the CBI officials for their hospitality, saying they conducted the session in a friendly and harmonious manner.
The Chief Minister also accused the central government of trying to intimidate him and his government. “The BJP government is afraid of us because we are fighting for the people and did a lot for our citizens. They are trying to use the CBI to target us,” he said.
AAP Facing the Legal Battle
Kejriwal’s questioning by the CBI has sparked a political row, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the central government of using the agency to target opposition leaders and calling dirty politics and saying “They are very powerful, they can send anyone to jail”. The BJP, on the other hand, has defended the CBI’s actions and said that the investigation is being conducted in a fair and impartial manner.
The liquor scam case is just one of several legal battles that Kejriwal and his government are currently facing. The Chief Minister is also facing charges of defamation and sedition in other cases.
The AAP, which came to power in Delhi in 2015, has been at loggerheads with the central government over several issues, including statehood for Delhi and the control of the Delhi Police. The party has accused the central government of trying to undermine its authority and has vowed to fight back.
The outcome of the CBI investigation into the liquor scam remains to be seen. The agency has not yet made any arrests in the case, and it is not clear when the investigation will be completed. However, the questioning of Kejriwal has once again put the spotlight on the ongoing political battle between the AAP and the BJP.
