Delhi liquor scam: Manish Sisodia arrested by CBI after 8-hour questioning

In a major development, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday in the Delhi liquor policy case.

The Deputy CM will be lodged at the CBI headquarters for now.

The CBI summoned him on Sunday in connection with the alleged irregularities and corruption in the formulation and implementation of the new excise policy for the national capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested after over eight hours of questioning.

Sisodia had earlier said he was ready for a few months of stay in jail. Showing support to his cabinet minister, AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “God is with you Manish. The blessings of lakhs of children and their parents are with you. When you go to jail for the country and society, then going to jail is not a curse, it is a glory. I pray to God that you return from jail soon. Children, parents and we all of Delhi will be waiting for you.”

Ever since the AAP’s Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 was scrapped on July 31, 2022, many senior AAP leaders and their close associates have been facing the heat of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI.

After scrapping the new policy, the Delhi government decided to bring back the ‘old excise regime’ that was in force before November 17, 2020.

Following the AAP’s action, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into the alleged violations of rules and procedural flaws in the implementation of the excise policy.

The central probe agencies have carried out multiple searches at various places in the country, including the home of the deputy CM, who hasn’t been named as an accused by the CBI. The AAP and the BJP have also been sparring over the alleged scam.