New Delhi: Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who had been summoned on Sunday at 11 am by the Central Bureau of Investigation, has asked for a week’s time before appearing. Sisodia, who has been summoned relating to the Delhi excise policy case, said he needs more time as he is busy with budget-related duties. He also holds the finance portfolio.
“Because it is the last week of February, it is a very crucial time for me as Delhi’s annual budget is being prepared. It is in the last stages. I have requested them for time till the end of February so that the budget is finalised. After that, either at the end of February or after that, whenever they seem fit, I will answer all their questions related to the excise policy and will make the matter clear,” Sisodia said Sunday, according to the Indian Express.
“I have always cooperated with them and will continue to do so. This time, however, is crucial for the budget, each day is important, and a disturbance can affect budget preparations and this is why I have sought more time. I’m sure CBI officials will understand that being the finance minister, my role in finalising the budget is very crucial,” he continued.
Before these summons, the CBI had gone to Sisodia’s office at the Delhi Secretariat on January 14. While Sisodia had referred to this as a “raid”, agency officials had claimed that prior notice had been sent to the deputy chief minister’s office and they were only there to collect technical evidence.
In October last year, Sisodia had claimed that the central agency had pressurised him to join the BJP if he wanted to avoid jail time. The CBI had denied these allegations.
On Saturday, Sisodia had tweeted about the CBI summons, saying that the Union government was using the might of all investigative agencies to get after him but have found nothing. “I have made arrangements for good education for the children of Delhi. They want to stop this. I have always cooperated with the investigation and will continue to do so,” he tweeted in Hindi.
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
Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also backed his deputy on Saturday, saying that there is no “scam” to speak of. “There is no such thing as the excise scam. There was no scam. We made the best, the most transparent (liquor) policy of its kind in the country. The same policy has led to an increase of 48% in revenue in Punjab,” he said at a press conference.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Delhi unit claimed on Sunday that Sisodia is only asking for more time as he is “scared”. “Budget is an excuse, the real objective is to run. He was claiming till yesterday that there is no scam, but today’s his body language indicates that he is scared. Scared of tough questions?” Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said in a statement, according to NDTV.
Sisodia and others face corruption allegations pertaining to a new liquor sale policy introduced in Delhi last year. While AAP has said this is an attempt by the BJP to discredit the party and the Delhi government, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena had ordered a CBI probe into the allegations last year. The Delhi government has since gone back to the old liquor policy.