NEW DELHI: The CBI is reported to have accepted Delhi Deputy Chief’s request for questioning in connection with the liquor policy scam on Sunday. Sisodia on Sunday morning had requested the federal agency that he would not be able to shelf time for the questioning as he had to fulfill his responsibilities as a finance minister as the state’s budget session neared.
In his request 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 finalize the budget. In his request he also informed the federal agency that he would be available for questioning only after a week.
CBI officials also clarified that they would be questioning him at a later date. “Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia is not joining the investigation today at CBI Headquarters. CBI will reissue a fresh date soon,” they said, as quoted by ANI.
Taking to Twitter, Sisodia had earlier said that the full power of central agencies was being used to against him. He further said that he will cooperate with the probe agency, as he has continued to do earlier.
The Excise Policy 2021-22 was withdrawn by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government last year after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe was recommended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena into “violation of norms and lapses”.
The CBI had registered an FIR in a special court in August last year against Sisodia and 14 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 477A (falsification of records), and section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.