'First CBI, Now ED': Delhi CM Kejriwal Says Centre's Only Goal Is To Keep Manish Sisodia In Jail

Arvind Kejriwal said that first, Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI, which found no evidence against him. So now, the Enforcement Directorate has placed him under arrest.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday alleged that Centre is trying to keep his former deputy Manish Sisodia in jail at all costs. He said that first, Sisodia was arrested by the CBI, which found no evidence against him. So now, the Enforcement Directorate has placed him under arrest.

"Manish was first arrested by the CBI. CBI did not find any evidence, no money was found in the raid. There is a bail hearing tomorrow. Manish would have been released tomorrow. So today ED arrested him. They have only one aim - to keep Manish inside at all costs. By creating new fake cases everyday. The public is watching. public will answer," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.

The ED placed Manish Sisodia under arrest in the Delhi liquor policy case earlier on Thursday. The ED, which is investigating the money laundering angle in the liquor policy case, questioned Sisodia for about 45 minutes in Tihar Jail before placing him under arrest. The development came a day ahead of his bail hearing in the liquor policy case filed by CBI.

The move by ED came under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that states if the investigative officer has "reasons to suspect" that the individual is "guilty" of money laundering, the ED may use Section 19 of the PMLA, which empowers it to arrest persons engaged or implicated in the case.

Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 for suspected corruption relating to the creation and implementation of the Delhi liquor or excise policy for 2021-22, which was later cancelled. He is currently in judicial custody until March 20. However, Sisodia has filed a bail application which is scheduled to be heard on March 10.

During his custody, the CBI questioned Sisodia alongside his former secretary C Arvind and former Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, with regards to the suspected manipulation of the excise policy.

Interestingly, Sisodia was not included in the list of accused individuals when the CBI issued a charge sheet for the case on November 25, 2022.

The excise policy, which granted licences to liquor merchants, was accused of promoting cartelisation and favoring particular dealers who had allegedly paid bribes. However, these allegations were denied by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The policy was ultimately repealed, and the Delhi Lieutenant Governor requested a CBI investigation, following which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against the same accused individuals.