NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was formally arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday in connection with a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam. The CBI sought a five-day custody for Kejriwal to delve deeper into the conspiracy. Special Judge Amitabh Rawat has reserved the order on the custody plea.
Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, I am innocent: Kejriwal
CM Kejriwal, during his court appearance, maintained his innocence and exonerated himself, his former deputy Manish Sisodia, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from any wrongdoing.
The formal arrest took place after the CBI received permission from the judge. Kejriwal was brought to the court from Tihar Central Jail, where he is currently lodged in connection with an excise scam money laundering case under investigation by the Enforcement Department.
Addressing the court, Kejriwal stated vehemently, “It is being shown in the media, citing CBI sources, that I have put the entire blame on Manish Sisodia in a statement. I have not given any statement that Sisodia is guilty or anyone else is guilty. I have said Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, I am innocent.”
He further accused CBI of sensationalising the case, claiming, “Their entire plan is to defame us in front of the media. Please record that all these have been run in media through CBI sources.” Kejriwal added, “It needs to be clarified. This will be the top headline in all the newspapers. They aim to sensationalise the matter.”
Kejriwal puts the entire onus on Sisodia: CBI
CBI countered Kejriwal’s allegations, stating they had only argued based on facts and that no agency source had leaked any information to the media. The judge pointed out the difficulty in controlling how the media reports on such matters, acknowledging, “It is very difficult to control media that way.”
In the application for Kejriwal’s custody, CBI argued that his interrogation was crucial to uncovering the larger conspiracy. They stated that Kejriwal needed to be confronted with evidence and other accused individuals in the case.
The agency claimed, “We need his custodial interrogation. He is not even recognizing that (co-accused) Vijay Nair was working under him. He says Nair was working under Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj. He puts the entire onus on Manish Sisodia (also accused in the case). He has to be confronted. He has to be shown documents.”
Moreover, CBI alleged that a ‘south lobby’ had significant influence over the now-scrapped excise policy, which was implemented during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi. “Deaths were happening. They prepared a report and gave it to Abhishek Boinpally. It was sent through Vijay Nair to Manish Sisodia. There was no meeting called. Signatures were obtained on the same day. Same day it was notified also. That was the haste… when there is Covid, who was at the helm of affairs? The chief minister. It is his direction. South lobby is sitting in Delhi and they see to it that it’s done, it’s notified,” CBI told the court.
Court questions CBI over timing of Kejriwal’s arrest
When questioned by the court regarding the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, CBI’s counsel said that they decided to delay it until after the elections.
“Unnecessary allegation of malice are being made. We could have conducted these proceedings before the elections. I (CBI) am doing my job, satisfying every court,” the counsel for the CBI stated. “Court was considering his interim bail for elections. If at that time, I (CBI) would have arrested… That shows my restraint that I did not arrest him when he was campaigning.”
Kejriwal’s defense team opposed the custody plea, describing it as ‘totally vague’ and a ‘classic case of abuse of power.’ The defense also requested access to the documents related to the CBI’s proceedings against Kejriwal, including the court order about his interrogation at Tihar prison on Tuesday evening.
As the situation unfolds, Kejriwal maintains his stance of innocence, awaiting the court’s decision on his custody. Alongside, CBI continues to push for a deeper investigation into the alleged excise scam, citing the necessity of Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation to uncover the purported conspiracy.
Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, I am innocent: Kejriwal
CM Kejriwal, during his court appearance, maintained his innocence and exonerated himself, his former deputy Manish Sisodia, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from any wrongdoing.
The formal arrest took place after the CBI received permission from the judge. Kejriwal was brought to the court from Tihar Central Jail, where he is currently lodged in connection with an excise scam money laundering case under investigation by the Enforcement Department.
Addressing the court, Kejriwal stated vehemently, “It is being shown in the media, citing CBI sources, that I have put the entire blame on Manish Sisodia in a statement. I have not given any statement that Sisodia is guilty or anyone else is guilty. I have said Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, I am innocent.”
He further accused CBI of sensationalising the case, claiming, “Their entire plan is to defame us in front of the media. Please record that all these have been run in media through CBI sources.” Kejriwal added, “It needs to be clarified. This will be the top headline in all the newspapers. They aim to sensationalise the matter.”
Kejriwal puts the entire onus on Sisodia: CBI
CBI countered Kejriwal’s allegations, stating they had only argued based on facts and that no agency source had leaked any information to the media. The judge pointed out the difficulty in controlling how the media reports on such matters, acknowledging, “It is very difficult to control media that way.”
In the application for Kejriwal’s custody, CBI argued that his interrogation was crucial to uncovering the larger conspiracy. They stated that Kejriwal needed to be confronted with evidence and other accused individuals in the case.
The agency claimed, “We need his custodial interrogation. He is not even recognizing that (co-accused) Vijay Nair was working under him. He says Nair was working under Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj. He puts the entire onus on Manish Sisodia (also accused in the case). He has to be confronted. He has to be shown documents.”
Moreover, CBI alleged that a ‘south lobby’ had significant influence over the now-scrapped excise policy, which was implemented during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi. “Deaths were happening. They prepared a report and gave it to Abhishek Boinpally. It was sent through Vijay Nair to Manish Sisodia. There was no meeting called. Signatures were obtained on the same day. Same day it was notified also. That was the haste… when there is Covid, who was at the helm of affairs? The chief minister. It is his direction. South lobby is sitting in Delhi and they see to it that it’s done, it’s notified,” CBI told the court.
Court questions CBI over timing of Kejriwal’s arrest
When questioned by the court regarding the timing of Kejriwal’s arrest, CBI’s counsel said that they decided to delay it until after the elections.
“Unnecessary allegation of malice are being made. We could have conducted these proceedings before the elections. I (CBI) am doing my job, satisfying every court,” the counsel for the CBI stated. “Court was considering his interim bail for elections. If at that time, I (CBI) would have arrested… That shows my restraint that I did not arrest him when he was campaigning.”
Kejriwal’s defense team opposed the custody plea, describing it as ‘totally vague’ and a ‘classic case of abuse of power.’ The defense also requested access to the documents related to the CBI’s proceedings against Kejriwal, including the court order about his interrogation at Tihar prison on Tuesday evening.
As the situation unfolds, Kejriwal maintains his stance of innocence, awaiting the court’s decision on his custody. Alongside, CBI continues to push for a deeper investigation into the alleged excise scam, citing the necessity of Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation to uncover the purported conspiracy.
