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New Delhi. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has summoned Delhi Chief Minister(Chief Minister ) Arvind Kejriwal on April 16 in connection with the alleged excise policy scam. Kejriwal has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11 am to answer the questions of the probe team. Sources said there are allegations that the money raised by tweaking the policy in favor of some liquor barons and the south lobby is suspected to be used by AAP for electoral purposes.
During the investigation, these things also came to the fore that the arrested accused Vijay Nair got Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to talk to the arrested accused Sameer Mahendru. In this conversation, Aam Aadmi Party chief Kejriwal told Sameer that “He is my boy”. Apart from this, Manish Sisodia gave a copy of the policy draft to his then PA C Arvind at CM Kejriwal’s house.
Along with this, it has also been said in the documents that Vijay Nair, who is the media and communication in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, played the role of a broker or middleman in this alleged scam.
What are the allegations?
The Central Investigation Agency has already arrested former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia in this case. There is an allegation that in the Delhi government’s Excise Policy of 2021-22, some dealers were allegedly given bribes to grant licenses to liquor traders. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rejected the allegation. This policy was later withdrawn.
A CBI spokesperson had said after the FIR was registered on August 17, 2022, “It is alleged that amendment in excise policy, giving undue advantage to licensees, exemption/reduction in license fee, L-1 without approval Irregularities including extension of license etc. were done.
Why is the inquiry happening on Sunday?
Sources have said that Kejriwal’s final role, whether as a witness or an accused, will be decided at the time of filing the chargesheet in the case after considering several factors. He said that at present the Chief Minister is expected to answer questions as a witness.
The CBI has made elaborate security arrangements around its headquarters and hence Sunday was kept as the day of questioning as the surrounding offices remain closed on this day. The same strategy was adopted by the agency when Sisodia was called to the agency headquarters, where he was questioned for eight hours before being taken into custody.
The CBI had filed a chargesheet against the seven accused on November 25 last year, but kept the probe against prime accused Sisodia open.
