Cong Prez Kharge Dials Arvind Kejriwal After CBI Summons Delhi CM In Liquor Policy Case

After the CBI issued a summon to Kejriwal asking him to appear in connection with the liquor policy case, Kharge spoke to Kejriwal, whereas, the Delhi Congress chief demanded Kejriwal's resignation. 

After the Central Beaurau of Investigation issued a summon to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to appear in connection with the now-scrapped liquor policy case, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday spoke to Arvind Kejriwal, sources in the Congress party told ABP News. On the other hand, the Delhi Congress President Anil Chaudhary publicly demanded Kejriwal's resignation. 

Although details of the conversation between Kharge and Kejriwal are not revealed, but it is believed that Kharge's call to Kejriwal indicates that Congress may take a soft stand on the issue of questioning Kejriwal in view of opposition unity. The CBI will question Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the now-withdrawn liquor policy case on April 16. Kejriwal has been summoned by the CBI at 11 am on Sunday at the agency's headquarters in Delhi.

AAP leader and former Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has already been arrested by the CBI in the case. Sisodia has also been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering related to the alleged excise scam. The excise policy 2021-22 was scrapped in August last year and the Delhi L-G later asked the CBI to probe alleged irregularities. The CBI has alleged that the Delhi government's excise policy for 2021-22 to grant licences to liquor traders favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, an accusation strongly refuted by the AAP. The policy was later scrapped.

Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that the CBI and ED were torturing people to take his and Manish Sisodia's name in the Delhi liquor policy scam case. "CBI, ED filed false affidavits in excise policy case in court; they're torturing people to testify against Manish Sisodia and me," he said in a press conference today. He listed names of some individuals alleging that they were tortured and beaten. 

During the press conference, Kejriwal said that the central agencies presented false evidence in court and tried to mislead the court.  "ED and CBI alleged that Sisodia broke 14 of his mobile phones to destroy evidence, but as per ED's seizure memo, 4 of them are with them while one is with CBI. Rest of the phones are also operational and are being used by different individuals," Kejriwal claimed, adding that the agencies took Rs 100 crore bribe and raided 400 locations but nothing was found. 

The Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said that he knew he would be summoned by CBI "the day I spoke against coruption in Delhi Assembly." "In 75 years, no party has been targeted like AAP. We have given hope to people about good education," he added. Speaking on the now-withdrawn liquor policy, Kejriwal said it was "excellent" and would have ended corruption.  An hour ahead of the press conference, the Bharatiya Janata Party trained guns against the Delhi CM asking what was his relation with liquor contractors and why he was in touch with the accused in the case.