After the court granted the remand of Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to CBI till March 4, in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor excise policy case, AAP leader Gopal Rai on Monday lashed out at the central investigative agencies and claimed that “CBI will find nothing against Manish Sisodia in these 5 days,” news agency PTI reported.
VIDEO | “The CBI will find nothing against Manish Sisodia in these 5 days,” says AAP leader Gopal Rai after the court granted CBI custody of Manish Sisodia till March 4. pic.twitter.com/HKqR78gAYv
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 27, 2023
After the court’s order, the BJP criticized the AAP and stated that: “Probe agencies acting lawfully against corrupt, AAP believes in neither court nor law.”
Probe agencies acting lawfully against corrupt, AAP believes in neither court nor law: BJP after Manish Sisodia sent to CBI remand
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 27, 2023
Gaurav Bhatia of the BJP slammed the AAP over suspected corruption. He went on to say that if the AAP believes the move is politically motivated, it can appeal to the Supreme Court.
With its drama, AAP signalling it won’t let probe agencies do their work, it amounts to obstructing process of justice: BJP’s Gaurav Bhatia
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 27, 2023
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at the BJP-led government on Sunday after the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, saying the administration is employing agencies to frighten the opposition.
The arrest of @msisodia by CBI is another example of how @BJP4India misuses the Union Government’s agencies to intimidate the opposition. It’s a blatant abuse of power and an attack on democracy. Such repression undermines the very foundation of our nation and should be resisted.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) February 27, 2023
Earlier during the hearing, the CBI had informed the court that the “conspiracy was hatched in a very planned and secret manner”.
Sisodia claimed that there was no evidence against him and opposed the CBI’s plea for his remand. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, representing Sisodia, said he has been cooperating with the agency in probe.
“Someone is not willing to say something you want to hear is no ground for remand,” he argued before the court.
Sisodia’s counsel argued that while the CBI said he changed his cell phones, that was not a crime.
The counsel said the policy was implemented after taking suggestions from the Delhi Lieutenant Governor. He further said that since it required consultations, there was no chance of conspiracy.
The CBI arrested Manish Sisodia on Sunday. He is the second Delhi minister to be arrested since Satyendar Jain.
Manish Sisodia was arrested after nearly eight hours of questioning on various aspects of the excise policy for 2021-22. The CBI has accused Sisodia of bending rules and provided undue benefits to liquor vend licensees.
(With Inputs From Agencies)