New Delhi: BJP MP and former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has said that the now-withdrawn Delhi liquor policy was made to exploit money so that AAP can fight elections with Khalistani's help. He said that it was an open and shut case and they (AAP, Sisodia) should get what they deserve.
"It was an open-and-shut case. They should get what they deserve. This is the first time in India that an Education Minister will go to Tihar jail that too in liquor scam case. This policy was made to exploit money so they can fight elections with Khalistani's help," Gambhir was quoted as saying by ANI.
He added that if there was no discrepancy in the liquor policy, then it should not have been taken back. Gambhir made the comments while talking to ANI over the arrest of deputy CM Manish Sisodia in now-withdrawn Delhi's excise policy case.
Referring to the emotional speech given by Sisodia at Rajghat before his arrest, Gambhir said that it is not the time for the same. He challenged Sisodia to show the schools, colleges and hospitals the latter claims his government has opened.
He said, "If there was no discrepancy in liquor policy, it shouldn't have been taken back. This is not the time to give emotional statements. If he (Sisodia) has opened schools, colleges and hospitals, show it to us. He can move to SC, but for me, Delhi CM and AAP has been exposed."
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Delhi liquor policy case, reported news agency ANI. The plea is likely to be mentioned in SC on Tuesday seeking an urgent hearing, it added.
Sisodia was arrested by the federal probe agency on Sunday for alleged corruption in the Delhi liquor policy case after being interrogated for nearly eight hours about various aspects of the excise policy that was scrapped for 2021-2022.
The investigation agency claimed that the policy had irregularities both in its formulation and implementation, allegedly intended to benefit people who have ties to the AAP.
On Monday, he was produced in a special court which sentenced him to five days in the custody of CBI. The court has ordered that Sisodia will be held by the CBI until March 4 for questioning.
The defense team for Sisodia asked whether the arrest was made with an "ulterior motive" and stated that the case is an assault on both the individual and the institution.
They claimed that the Delhi lieutenant governor had approved the changes to the excise policy and that the central probe agency was going after the elected government, arguing that there was no evidence against Sisodia and opposing the CBI's request for his remand.
After hearing arguments from both sides during the hearing, which lasted for more than an hour, special judge M K Nagpal granted the CBI's request for Sisodia to be interrogated in a custodial setting. He reserved the order for some time.