Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, has been called in by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to testify in a case involving the excise law in Delhi.Â
Kejriwal is being called as a witness and is not an accused in the case. The Delhi Chief Minister will appear before the CBI at 11 am IST on 16 April. Â
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, a close friend of Kejriwal, was arrested by the CBI in the liquor policy case on 26 February. Around 1,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, would be stationed outside the CBI headquarters by the Delhi Police to protect the Delhi CM. Security will also be heightened outside the AAP office on Rouse Avenue.Â
Allegations Against Delhi Government’s Excise Policy
It is alleged that the Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22 favoured certain dealers who had paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The policy was later scrapped.Â
The CBI may question the Delhi CM about other accused’s allegations indicating how policy was allegedly swayed to favour specific liquor firms and the “South liquor lobby.” If he participated in the policy’s development before it was authorized, the Delhi Chief Minister may also be questioned.Â
Arvind Kejriwal’s ResponseÂ
At a press conference on Saturday, Kejriwal stated that BJP leaders were calling for his arrest and that the investigation agency could not refuse if the saffron party had “ordered” it. The AAP, according to him, has given people hope in a way that no other party has been able to do in India’s 75-year history as an independent nation. He said that Sisodia destroyed 14 cell phones to conceal evidence and that the CBI and ED “lied” about this in court. ” The CBI had one of the 14 phones, according to the seizure paperwork, while the ED had four.
The remaining nine phones (numbers) were operational and being used by individuals, such as AAP volunteers, according to our own inquiry, he alleged. He named several individuals who were treated unfairly in the excise case by citing their names. Chandan Reddy received such severe beatings that his eardrums ruptured. Threats to put the witness’ father and wife in jail led to the witness being coerced into signing a false statement. Others were forced into making false declarations that they subsequently withdrew in court, he alleged.Â
Opposition Leaders Express Solidarity
Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress, and Nitish Kumar, the leader of the JD(U) and the chief minister of Bihar, have both expressed support for Kejriwal and renewed calls for the opposition to unite quickly to fight the BJP.Â
Kejriwal to Sue CBI and ED Officials
For alleged perjury and submitting fraudulent affidavits to courts, Kejriwal declared he will sue the CBI and ED employees. Kejriwal’s comments about suing the CBI and ED drew a rebuke from Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said that if found guilty, the AAP leader will sue the court. The AAP claimed that the Centre was planning to arrest Kejriwal and “misusing” investigation agencies to “harass” its leaders.
The CBI’s summons to Kejriwal has once again stirred up a political storm, with opposition leaders rallying around the Delhi Chief Minister. Kejriwal’s allegations of third-degree treatment of persons under investigation and the seizure.Â
