After the arrest of Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case, Arvind Kejriwal is the next one being probed by the CBI.
In connection with the Delhi excise policy case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, for questioning. The CBI’s summons to the AAP chief follows the arrest of former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia in the same case. The alleged irregularities in granting licences to liquor traders are what the case is concerned with. This probe is with respect to the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021–22. The AAP had allegedly denied charges that certain dealers were favoured, and the policy was subsequently scrapped.
Neither the CBI nor the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have named Kejriwal by name in their respective cases filed in relation to the excise policy. Based on the CBI’s findings in its case on March 9th, Sisodia was arrested while the ED was probing a related money laundering case. The CBI began its probe last year after Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended an inquiry by the central agency into the matter. The recommendation was based on a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on July 8 of last year.
The CBI excise policy probe
Procedural lapses in the implementation of the excise policy were cited by Kumar, who also claimed that post-tender benefits were extended to the licensees. The CBI filed an FIR on August 17 of the previous year, and two days later, 21 locations in Delhi were searched, including Sisodia’s residence.
Vijay Nair, the communication in-charge of AAP, was the first high-profile arrest the CBI made in the case; this was on September 28. Later, on the 14th of November, Nair was placed under arrest by the ED. In reaction to the summoning of Kejriwal by the CBI, the AAP stated that it was part of a conspiracy to “intimidate” and “silence” Kejriwal in his fight against corruption. To this, the BJP said it was merely the course of law taking place and that the Chief Minister was the mastermind in the scam and not simply complicit.
Party representatives respond.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh targeted the Prime Minister and alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was “steeped in corruption from head to toe”. Singh said Kejriwal’s nationwide battle against corruption would not stop on account of the summons from the CBI. Virendra Sachdeva, who is the BJP president in Delhi, spoke of the truth prevailing. “Satyamev Jayate; from the very beginning, Arvind Kejriwal has been said to be the central figure in this scam regarding the excise policy, and that it was his instructions that were followed in Delhi… He also spoke of them welcoming the summons issued to Kejriwal, who is the alleged mastermind of the scam.
Harish Khurana, who is a spokesperson for the BJP in Delhi, affirmed that the summons issued to the Chief Minister were procedural in nature and that there is no reason for the Chief Minister to fear if he has “not done anything wrong.” Khurana stated that the personal secretary of Manish Sisodia has clearly told investigators that all the dealings related to the excise policy took place at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence and at his instructions.
The case regarding Delhi government’s excise policy of 2021-22 is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what charges, if any, will be faced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Criminal charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defence information carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison if the summons result in new information being revealed.
