Manish Sisodia, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was on Sunday arrested after a marathon eight-hour questioning by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam.
"Even if I am in jail for 7-8 months, don't feel sorry for me, be proud. PM [Narendra] Modi is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal, so he wants to frame me in a fake case. You should fight on. My wife, who has stood by me from Day 1, is unwell and alone at home. Take care of her. And I want to tell children of Delhi, study hard and listen to your parents," Mr Sisodia told supporters before leaving for the CBI office.
Here are the Highlights:
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's arrest by the CBI in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam case is a welcome step, Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary said on Sunday, claiming that the AAP "used power to accumulate wealth". He alleged that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should also be arrested as he was the mastermind of the "corrupt deal".
The BJP has hit out at the Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party following its claims that the Central Bureau of Investigation is being misused by the Centre, following the arrest of Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. "Event management can't Save AAP from the law," said the BJP's Sambit Patra, questioning why AAP chose to withdraw the controversial liquor policy when his party questioned it. Read here
Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann arrived at Manish Sisodia's house, in a sign of solidarity, soon after his deputy was arrested by the CBI in the alleged liquor policy scam.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is the second minister from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to be arrested by a central agency in less than a year. Mr Sisodia's colleague and Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was the first AAP minister to be arrested by a central agency in May last year. The AAP has accused the BJP-led centre of using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to harass them. Read here
"Manish is innocent. His arrest is dirty politics. There is a lot of anger among the people due to the arrest of Manish. Everyone is watching. People are understanding everything. People will respond to this," tweeted Arvind Kejriwal soon after his deputy was arrested.
"We condemn the arrest of Manish Sisodia. Ever since the BJP has seen that the opposition is raising issues of farmers, the youth and is getting together on issues, this is an attack on opposition unity and this will prove to be detrimental to the BJP. We want to say to the home minister, you want to become Indira ji, you want to become an autocrat, there has been no place for such things ever in India," said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ameeq Jamei.
AAP leader Atishi reiterated that the AAP remains a "kattar imandaar party" and that the CBI will not be able to present any evidence against Manish Sisodia in the court.
The CBI contends that liquor companies were involved in framing of the 2021 liquor policy in exchange for kickbacks. The policy that was formed would have led to a 12 per cent profit for them, of which 6 per cent was routed to public servants through middlemen like Hyderabad-based businessman Abhishek Bonipally.
The CBI investigation relates to the now-withdrawn Delhi liquor sales policy introduced in 2021. Manish Sisodia is the head of Delhi's excise department, which is how he has come into the line of fire. Under the policy, in a departure from norms in most states, the government no longer had anything to do with selling liquor and allowed only private shops to do so. The central aim was to stop black marketing, increase revenue and improve the consumer experience. It also allowed the home delivery of liquor and shops to stay open till 3 AM.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said they knew Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia would be arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today, minutes after he was taken into custody in the Delhi liquor policy case. "The CBI is completely at the behest of the centre. We always knew Manish Sisodia would be arrested. We knew this would happen," AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj said. "It is sad and predictable how the probe agencies work," he added. Read here
Manish Sisodia has been arrested by CBI in alleged liquor scam
Soon after the CBI started questioning Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged liquor policy scam on Sunday, the city police detained as many as 50 workers and leaders of the ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP). Delhi police said the AAP workers and prominent leaders, including Sanjay Singh, were detained allegedly for violating Section 144 of the CrPC. "A total 50 persons, including 42 men and 8 women, were detained," Delhi Police said.
उन्हें मालूम पड़ गया!
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 26, 2023
भाजपा का काल, अरविंद केजरीवाल
उनकी देश को बांटने की दुकान सिर्फ़ AAP बंद कर सकती है
दिल्ली Punjab के बाद, Gujarat में AAP ने उम्मीद की खिड़की खोल दी है
दिल्ली में BJP का MCD में डेढ़ दशकों का शासन, AAP ने ख़त्म किया
-@dilipkpandey #ModiFearsKejriwal pic.twitter.com/LFLAiLWUE2
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Mayor Dr.@OberoiShelly Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/PdjVNupEYS
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 26, 2023
#WATCH | AAP MP Sanjay Singh and other party leaders detained by Delhi Police for protesting outside CBI office.
- ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2023
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is in CBI office for questioning in connection with liquor scam case. pic.twitter.com/nfdLJvdJ91
Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi rallied for Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who went to the CBI headquarters for questioning in the liquor sales policy probe.
.@msisodiaजी CBI पेशी पर जाने से पहले महात्मा गांधी जी की समाधि पर गिड़गिड़ाते नजर आये इन्ही लोगों ने पंजाब में सरकारी दफ़्तरों से अहिंसा के पुजारी की तस्वीर हटाकर राष्ट्रपिता का ही नहीं देश के करोड़ों लोगों का अपमान किया था।भगतसिंह जी जेल जाने से पहले गिड़गिड़ाये नही।@BJP4India pic.twitter.com/I4OqYbFPW0
- Ramesh Bidhuri (@rameshbidhuri) February 26, 2023
Senior AAP leader & Rajya Sabha Member @raghav_chadha Addressing an Important Press Conference | LIVE https://t.co/czU18x2N8D
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 26, 2023
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia arrived at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters for questioning in the liquor policy case on Sunday after an impassioned send-off by AAP supporters.
Watch | AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's questioning in liquor policy case pic.twitter.com/7WjUNgZa5p
- NDTV (@ndtv) February 26, 2023
Watch | Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia reaches CBI headquarters pic.twitter.com/VNdLDUTuqQ
- NDTV (@ndtv) February 26, 2023
"They are afraid of us, we are not afraid of them": Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia ahead of questioning at CBI headquarters in connection with Liquor Policy Case pic.twitter.com/FQUas6IQiu
- NDTV (@ndtv) February 26, 2023
- These are false charges. I am not scared of going to jail. I am a follower of Bhagat Singh. All of you are like family to me. I have worked with utmost honesty, have always worked hard.
- I was very happy when I worked in TV. I left good money, good job to work with Arvind Kejriwal.
- I want to tell children that your "Manish chacha" that we still have work to do. Study with sincerity, get good marks. Even in jail, I will get news about children. I will feel bad if children lose interest in children, I will stop eating. Pls work hard, study well.
Manish Sisodia faces corruption allegations in bringing a new liquor sale policy in the national capital. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena had ordered the CBI probe last year. The Delhi government reverted to the old liquor policy and blamed the Lieutenant Governor for loss of revenue worth crores of rupees.
CBI दफ़्तर जाने से पहले, राजघाट पर बापू का आशीर्वाद लेने पहुंचे Deputy CM @msisodia | LIVE #ModiFearsKejriwal https://t.co/qeOyKRmQ28
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 26, 2023
The CBI has made detailed set of questions based on the confessions of those recently arrested in the now scrapped liquor policy case. Sources told NDTV that the AAP leader will be questioned till 6 PM.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia leaves his residence ahead of CBI questioning in Liquor Policy Case pic.twitter.com/KjG1QflKWB
- NDTV (@ndtv) February 26, 2023
Prohibitory measures have been imposed as part of a contingency measure to handle situation if anything arises due to AAP protests,police sources told NDTV. They also denied AAP's claim that its leaders have been put under house arrest.
Manish Sisodia To Appear For CBI Questioning In Liquor Policy Case https://t.co/VQsqMbPUQp pic.twitter.com/xC5ndJjKIp
- NDTV (@ndtv) February 26, 2023
Large gatherings have been imposed outside CBI headquarters in Delhi. The decision to impose Section 144 was taken after intelligence reports warning about protest by AAP leaders. Manish Ssodia is expected to appear before the central agency at 11 am.
PM Modi ने देश के No. 1 शिक्षा मंत्री @msisodia को गिरफ़्तार करने के लिए पूरी ताक़त लगा दी है।#ModiFearsKejriwal pic.twitter.com/UqkLb4jd0l
- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 26, 2023
The AAP on Saturday said Manish Sisodia will fully cooperate with the investigation and asserted that it is a "hardcore honest" party.