Sisodia, who is the main defendant in the case, was invited to appear before the agency at the CBI headquarters here at 11 on Monday.
AAP officials Saurabh BharadwajSanjay Singh and Atishi held separate press conferences and expressed apprehension about this Sisodia he would have been arrested, although “there is no evidence against him”, in order to stop the AAP “colossus” in Gujarat voted.
The new excise policy that came into effect last November ceased to be in effect on September 1 this year following the state government’s decision to withdraw it.
‘No evidence, but Sisodia will be arrested’
Hours after the Deputy Prime Minister Handle Sisodia tweeted on Sunday saying he was called by the CBI on Monday, the Aam Aadmi party expressed fears that the agency could arrest him “despite finding no evidence against him” in the alleged excise policy scam.
AAP officials Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjay Singh and Atishi held separate press conferences and said Sisodia would be arrested to stop the AAP giant in Gujarat, where the party was expanding its base ahead of the assembly polls to end of year.
Sisodia was named first accused in a FIR registered by the CBI on the recommendation of LG VK Saxena to investigate alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the 2021-22 excise policy. The CBI has already searched the bank’s residence, office and locker in connection with the case.
“A CBI raid was conducted on my home for 14 hours, nothing came out. I searched my bank locker, nothing came out. They found nothing in my village. Now, they called me to the headquarters of the CBI tomorrow at 11.00. I will go to extend my full cooperation. Satyameva Jayate, “tweeted Sisodia.
So far, the CBI has made two arrests while the management of law enforcement has arrested one person in the case. More than 500 raids have reportedly been conducted since August this year.
Calling it a second freedom struggle, Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who is in prison in a separate case, were like Bhagat Singh.
“The prison and the hanging noose have failed to discourage Bhagat Singh’s strong intentions. This is the second fight for freedom. Manish and Satyendar are today’s Bhagat Singh. After 75 years, the country has obtained a minister of Education that gave a good education and hoped for a bright future too. The prayers of millions of poor people are with you, “tweeted Kejriwal in Hindi.
Addressing a press conference, AAP chief spokesman Saurabh Bhardwaj said summoning Sisodia to CBI headquarters was a deliberate move and that the deputy CM would be arrested for obstructing the AAP campaign in Gujarat.
“The CBI subpoena has nothing to do with the excise case. They called Manish Sisodia to their office to arrest him. The BJP should just wait and watch: The more they arrest AAP leaders, the stronger the party in Gujarat will grow. “, Bhardwaj said.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the CBI notice sent to Sisodia was a clear indication that the BJP’s defeat was certain in Gujarat.
“Agindo out of fear, the BJP is conspiring to arrest Manish Sisodia just before his demonstrations in Gujarat. The BJP-controlled CBI does not intend to interrogate Sisodia. It is a ploy to arrest him,” Singh said.
Kalkaji MLA Atishi said the BJP was trying to shift focus away from growing anti-incumbency against its 27-year tenure in Gujarat and dented AAP’s poll conducted by targeting Sisodia.
Reacting to the AAP’s claims, Delhi BJP spokesman Praveen Shankar Kapoor said Kejriwal’s party leaders were aware of corruption in excise policy and that was why they feared Sisodia would be arrested.
“AAP leaders said Manish Sisodia will be arrested by the CBI on Monday. So far the CBI has only summoned him. How can you be so sure of his arrest? That means you know Sisodia is involved in the scam,” Kapoor tweeted.
