CBI also called Kejriwal for questioning, Sisodia in jail, Sanjay Singh said AAP will not bow down

The investigation into the alleged liquor scam in Delhi has now reached Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Reason, in this case CBI will interrogate Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. He has been issued summons to appear for questioning on 16 April. Now Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh will hold a press conference regarding this today at 6 pm. It has been told by the Aam Aadmi Party that Arvind Kejriwal will be involved in the CBI inquiry. The party alleges that the central government wants to create pressure after getting the status of a national party. Sanjay Singh called it an atrocity while giving a fresh conference. He said, ‘I am again putting forth the truth of how the ED investigation is a bundle of lies. The BJP, which repeatedly says about Manish Sisodia that 14 phone-sims were destroyed, must apologize with folded hands after this. The report filed by ED on this, all the phones are still alive. None were destroyed. Out of this, 5 phones have been seized by ED itself. His family and his employees work in Manish Sisodia’s house. The numbers of all these were picked up and it was said that the phones were destroyed. IMEI numbers of all these are telling that these phones are still with ED.

‘If there is so much trouble then give poison’

Singh further said, ‘This is a bundle of lies of the ED investigation. These people are now doing the work of destroying the evidence itself. I want to tell the BJP people that if there is only this much problem, make poison powder and distribute it to everyone. Give this poison powder to Kejriwal, Manish and Satyendar Jain. Finish everything. Lies are being told in the court. . By telling the numbers of the family members, it is being told that the phones were destroyed by Manish Sisodia. Now BJP should apologise. Why are you defaming a man who was working to provide better education to lakhs of children? The statement which was not given against me is being added.

Senior AAP leader & Rajya Sabha Member @SanjayAzadSln addressing an important press conference | LIVE https://t.co/WMG5IN3oI8

— Aam Aadmi Party Delhi (@AAPDelhi) April 14, 2023

Let us tell you that in this case former Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia is also in jail. Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 26 February. Manish Sisodia was also questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in jail. ED had arrested Manish Sisodia from jail itself after interrogation. ED had also questioned Manish Sisodia on remand. Manish Sisodia had sought bail in this case by filing a petition in the Rouse Avenue Court. But the court did not accept it.

What is liquor scam case?

The Delhi government had implemented the new excise policy on 17 November 2021. After the implementation of this policy, the Delhi government had argued to end the mafia rule along with the increase in revenue, but the exact opposite happened. The Delhi government suffered loss of revenue. In July 2022, the then Chief Secretary of Delhi submitted a report to LG VK Saxena, in which Manish Sisodia was accused of giving undue benefits to liquor traders.

The LG had recommended the matter to be investigated by the CBI. Following the recommendation of the LG, the CBI started the investigation by registering a case on 17 August 2022. In this case, 15 people including Manish Sisodia were made accused. On August 22, the ED had also registered a case of money laundering in the Excise Policy. After about six months of investigation, the CBI arrested Manish Sisodia in the month of February. Manish Sisodia is behind bars since then.

Case registered under these sections

The CBI has registered a case against the accused under sections related to criminal conspiracy and corruption. These include three former government officials AG Krishna (former excise commissioner), Anand Tiwari (former deputy excise commissioner) and Pankaj Bhatnagar (former assistant excise commissioner). In this, Amit Arora (Director of Buddy Retail Private Limited), Dinesh Arora and Arjun Pandey have also been made accused. All three are considered close to Sisodia.

It is alleged that the three collected money from the liquor traders with the help of the accused government officials and diverted it to another place. The CBI filed the first charge sheet in this case in November last year. The names of seven accused were included in this. However, Sisodia’s name was not there in it. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the matter. ED has also filed a charge sheet in the court in this case. ED also did not write the name of Manish Sisodia.

After the controversy escalated, on July 28, 2022, the government canceled the new liquor policy and decided to implement the old policy again. In the cabinet note on July 31, it was admitted that despite the high sale of liquor, the government’s earnings decreased, as retailers and wholesalers were withdrawing from the liquor business. In the first quarter of the financial year 2022-23, a revenue of Rs 1,485 crore was received, which was about 38 percent less than the budget estimate.

What has happened in the investigation so far?

▪️On August 17, the CBI registered the case and two days later, on the 19th, raided 31 locations in seven states, including Manish Sisodia’s house and office. On 30th, CBI also searched Sisodia’s bank locker. Sisodia claimed that the CBI did not find anything.

▪️On 6 September 2022, ED raided more than 40 locations. ED conducted this raid in the case of money laundering. On September 16, the ED again raided more than 40 locations in several states including Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, apart from Delhi-NCR.

▪️On September 27, the CBI arrested Vijay Nair (former CEO of Only Much Louder). The very next day, ED also arrested Sameer Mahendru (MD of Indospirit Group).

▪️According to the CBI FIR, Arjun Pandey, an alleged close aide of Manish Sisodia, had taken Rs 2 to 4 crore from liquor baron Sameer Mahendru. This amount was taken on behalf of Vijay Nair. Vijay Nair has also been the communication in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party for a few years.

▪️On October 10, the CBI arrested Abhishek Boinpally. Abhishek Boinapalli is the partner of Arun Ramachandra Pillai. On October 17, Manish Sisodia was questioned for 9 hours at the CBI headquarters.

▪️On November 8, the CBI told the court that Dinesh Arora is ready to become an approver. Dinesh Arora is considered close to Sisodia.

▪️On November 10, the ED arrested Aurobindo Pharma director Sarath Reddy and Pernod Ricard executive Binay Babu in a money laundering case. On 14th, ED arrested Vijay Nair and Abhishek Boinapalli. On November 30, the CBI arrested Amit Arora, director of Badi Retail. Amit Arora is also considered close to Sisodia.