‘Asked Why I’m in AAP’: Sisodia After CBI Grilling in Excise Policy Case; Agency Refutes Claims

The whole excise policy case is “fraud” and part of ‘Operation Lotus’, claimed Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia after leaving the CBI office on Monday evening following nearly 9 hours of grilling. Sisodia alleged that he was asked why he was in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a charge dismissed by the CBI.

“This is all part of Operation Lotus… It is being used to pressurise us… I was asked why I am in AAP… I was offered that I will be made CM,” he alleged.

Sisodia reached the CBI headquarters in the national capital in the morning following the central probe agency’s summons in connection with the Delhi excise policy case.

The CBI  “strongly” refuted Sisodia’s allegations, and said that his interrogation was “carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR”.

The excise policy scheme 2021-22 came under the scanner after LG Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in its implementation. Sisodia is among 15 people and entities named in an FIR registered by the CBI in connection with the alleged irregularities. The CBI had earlier raided Sisodia’s residence in connection with the case.

Here are the top points in the case so far:

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• Sources told CNN-News18 that Sisodia has not been called for questioning again. The CBI will evaluate the answers that he has given before deciding on the next course of action.
• Sisodia left the CBI office after being questioned for nine hours by the probe agency. According to the sources present there, Sisodia left from an outgate where the media was not present.
• Earlier in a series of tweets, Sisodia said, “A completely fake case has been prepared against me. Nothing was found in the raid at my residence, search of my bank lockers and inquiries made at my village. It is totally a fake case.” The deputy chief minister, who also holds the excise portfolio in the Kejriwal government, is one of the main accused in the FIR registered in the matter by the CBI. Kejriwal also termed the case against his deputy as “fake”.
• Earlier in the day, before arriving at the central probe agency headquarters, Sisodia went to his party office from where he proceeded to Rajghat. A large number of his supporters gathered outside his residence and joined him on the way to the CBI office.
• Delhi Police has made tight security arrangements and prohibitory orders were put in place around Sisodia’s residence on Mathura Road.
• AAP MP Sanjay Singh and other protesters were detained by police for protesting outside the CBI headquarters in violation of prohibitory orders.
• Singh and 16 Delhi MLAs were among 119 AAP members who were detained.  “Among the 119 people detained were AAP MP Sanjay Singh and 16 MLAs. There were 13 women,” a senior police officer. While 90 were detained and kept at Fatehpur Beri police station, 29 others were held at Maidangarhi police station. All of them were released later.

(With PTI inputs)

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