CM Kejriwal, AAP MLAs Salute Sisodia In Delhi Assembly To Mark One Year Of His Arrest. WATCH

Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP MLAs saluted former deputy CM Manish Sisodia at the Delhi Assembly today to mark one year of his arrest.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal along with other AAP MLAs was seen saluting the former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Assembly on Monday. The gesture was done as today marks one year since the AAP senior leader Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy case.

Arvind Kejriwal stated: "He (Manish Sisodia) did what no other government could do. History is witness that when such people come and challenge the system, such injustice is done to them."

Arvind Kejriwal will reportedly be visiting Delhi's Rajghat along with other Delhi cabinet ministers and MLAs on Monday to mark one year of Sisodia's incarceration.

Why Was Sisodia Arrested?

Sisodia was apprehended by the CBI on February 26, 2023, in connection with alleged corruption in the now-scrapped liquor policy for 2021-22. Under the scrapped policy, the national capital was divided into 32 zones, and private companies were awarded 849 liquid vends through open bidding.

Each zone had a maximum of 27 vends and instead of granting individual licences, the bidding was conducted on a zone-by-zone basis. The policy was reportedly started as a means to increase government revenues, improve customer experience, and put an end to the black marketing and liquor mafia's influence. However, the government was forced to take it back in July 2022 after it was opposed by religious groups, civil society, and educational institutions. 

The controversy happened after the Kejriwal government was alleged of using the excise policy 2021-22 to extend undue financial favours to the liquor licencees, which resulted in huge losses to the ex-chequer.

A report by the Delhi Chief Secretary alleged that the then minister in charge of the excise department, Manish Sisodia was involved in the major decisions and actions that were "in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications."

"It was done so with the sole aim of benefitting private liquor barons in lieu of financial benefits to individuals at the highest echelons of the government leading up to the Minister-in-charge of Excise & Finance, Manish Sisodia," the report stated.

Subsequently, the CBI registered an FIR against Sisodia and 14 others in a special court under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 477 A (falsification of records) under IPC and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Sisodia was then summoned by CBI to record his statement in October 2022. However, he was arrested by the agency in February 2023 after being questioned for eight hours.