Section 144 clamped around CBI HQ as AAP protests against summons to Sisodia

With four-layer barricades and the deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RFA), security has been tightened outside.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence ahead of his Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) questioning in the liquor policy case today. Sisodia is likely to reach the CBI’s headquarters in central Delhi’s Lodhi Road at 11 am.

The central probe agency has prepared a detailed set of questions for the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister.

Sisodia, who also holds the Finance portfolio in the Delhi Cabinet, was originally summoned last Sunday but he sought deferment of his questioning, citing the ongoing Budget exercise, following which, the CBI asked him to appear on February 26.

According to sources, Sisodia will go to Raj Ghat before reaching the CBI office. He is expected to leave his residence around 9 am.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has once again expressed apprehensions about Sisodia’s arrest.

Responding to the developments, AAP chief 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.”

AAP MP Sanjay Singh took to Twitter on Sunday morning and wrote, “This is Modi ji’s police, they have put in full force to arrest Manish Sisodia though the crime rate is not decreasing. The leaders of AAP are being put under house arrest. Why are you so afraid of Arvind Kejriwal, Modi ji? Nothing will happen with these tricks.”

On Sunday morning, Manish Sisodia took to Twitter and wrote, “Going to CBI again today, will cooperate fully in the entire investigation. The love of lakhs of children and the blessings of crores of countrymen are with us. I don’t care if I have to stay in jail for a few months. I am a follower of Bhagat Singh, who was hanged for the country. It is a small thing to go to jail because of such false allegations.”

AAP’s Atishi said Sisodia’s questioning shows that the BJP is scared of the AAP. On being questioned about apprehensions of house arrest, she said police officials had reached the residences of AAP leaders ahead of Sisodia’s questioning and furnished photographs, too.

Meanwhile, police have blocked all roads that lead to the CBI headquarters and placed barricades outside the central probe agency office. Section 144 of the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) has been imposed outside the office.

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader was earlier examined for a day on October 17 last year, nearly a month before the central probe agency had filed its charge sheet against seven people, including middlemen and liquor traders, in which Sisodia was not listed as accused, but the agency had kept the probe into his alleged role open.

Nearly three months after filing its charge sheet, the CBI will question Sisodia on various aspects of the Excise Policy, his alleged links with liquor traders, and politicians and claims made by witnesses in their statements.

On Saturday, the AAP said Sisodia will fully cooperate with the investigation and asserted that it is a “hardcore honest” party.

“Tomorrow, Manish Sisodia will go for the CBI inquiry and will fully cooperate with them. In the last eight to 10 years, almost 150-200 cases have been filed against AAP leaders. But they (Centre) have not been able to prove corruption of even a single penny against our leaders. This is because the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a hardcore honest party,” AAP legislator Atishi was quoted by news agency PTI as saying on Saturday.

Also, Sisodia had expressed apprehensions that the central investigation agencies might arrest him. “They are using the CBI to take revenge and I am sure they will do that by getting me arrested,” he had alleged.