CBI Would Arrest Me So Sought Time To Finalise Budget: Sisodia On Summon In Excise Policy Case

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to postpone his questioning scheduled on Sunday in the Delhi excise policy case.

Manish Sisodia requests postponing of questioning in Delhi excise policy case

Source : PTI

Delhi Excise Policy Case: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has urged the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to postpone his questioning scheduled on Sunday in the Delhi excise policy case adding that he knows the agency will arrest him and he needs time to prepare the budget for the national capital.

Sisodia said that he is also the Finance Minister of Delhi and is busy preparing the national capital's budget.

Talking to ANI, Sisodia said, "I've always cooperated with CBI, but this is a crucial time for Delhi as we've to prepare the budget and sent it to the Central Government by the end of February. I knew they would arrest me so I've asked CBI to give me time to finalise the budget."

According to a PTI report, Sisodia told reporters, "It's my duty as finance minister to present the budget on time and I have been working 24 hours for it."

He said that he will appear before the agency by the end of February, whenever CBI summons him. "I have requested the CBI to allow me to come after the last week of February and answer all their questions."

According to ANI, CBI is investigating at the request of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

CBI is investigating at the request of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2023

Earlier on Saturday, Sisodia in a tweet said that he has been called for questioning yet again, and he would continue cooperating in the investigation. "CBI has called again tomorrow. They have used the full power of CBI, ED against me, raided my house, searched bank locker, but nothing was found against me," he said. He added, "I have worked to provide good education of Delhi’s children and they want to stop it." Sisodia added that nothing was found against him during searches.

सीबीआई ने कल फिर बुलाया है. मेरे ख़िलाफ़ इन्होंने CBI, ED की पूरी ताक़त लगा रखी है, घर पर रेड, बैंक लॉकर तलाशी, कहीं मेरे ख़िलाफ़ कुछ नहीं मिला
मैंने दिल्ली के बच्चों के लिए अच्छी शिक्षा का इंतज़ाम किया है। ये उसे रोकना चाहते हैं।
मैंने जाँच में हमेशा सहयोग किया है और करूँगा.

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 18, 2023

Reacting to the development, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "No scam took place in the Delhi liquor policy case. This is a conspiracy against Manish Sisodia."

The federal agency alleged that the now-scrapped Delhi government’s policy granted licences to liquor traders who favoured certain dealers who had allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly refuted by the AAP. Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered a CBI investigation into Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 in November last year.

Amid allegations of corruption and irregularities in the drafting and implementation of the policy, the Delhi government reverted to the old liquor policy, blaming LG for the loss of revenue worth crores of rupees. 

Sisodia, who also held the charge of the Excise department, was earlier questioned on October 17 last year and his home and bank lockers were also searched in connection with the case. 

The agency said that it is now focused on the alleged influence of a "South Lobby" of businessmen and politicians in formulating and implementing Delhi liquor policy to swing it in their favour using middlemen, liquor traders, and public servants. 
Arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinpally are among the seven accused in the charge sheet filed on November 25 last year.