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News – CBI summons Arvind Kejriwal on 16th April for investigation in liquor scam case.
Arvind Kejriwal will appear before CBI for questioning: AAP
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 16 in the Excise Policy case.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh said, “A notice has been served by the CBI. Arvind Kejriwal will appear before them on April 16.”
The CBI has summoned Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on April 16 for questioning in the excise policy matter.
The development comes after former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was in judicial custody in the same case.
Targeting the BJP, AAP said, “After becoming a national party, the Center wants to put AAP under pressure.” Under this, CBI has summoned Arvind Kejriwal. He will appear for questioning on 16 April.
“CBI summons has been sent to Arvind Kejriwal. I want to tell PM – you and your government are involved in corruption from head to toe and Arvind Kejriwal’s fight will not stop with this CBI summons. A conspiracy hatched by you for arrest Conspiracy Sanjay Singh said, Jail and take action against Arvind Kejriwal on April 16, his voice will not be suppressed.
Notably, on 10 April, the Election Commission of India recognized AAP as a national party after it was able to meet the required criteria.
Sisodia was arrested by the ED and the CBI in an ongoing probe into a case related to alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the excise policy of the GNCTD.
The CBI arrested Sisodia on February 26, 2023 in the liquor policy case. He was later arrested by the ED on March 9 after hours of questioning at Tihar Jail.
In October, the ED had raided nearly three dozen locations in Delhi and Punjab after arresting and later arresting Sameer Mahendru, managing director of Delhi-based Jor Bagh-based liquor distributor Indospirit Group, in the case. The CBI also filed its first chargesheet in the case earlier this week.
The ED and CBI had alleged that irregularities were committed while revising the excise policy, undue favors were given to license holders, license fees were waived or reduced and L-1 licenses were extended without the approval of the competent authority . The beneficiaries gave “illegal” benefits to the accused officials and made false entries in their books of account to avoid detection.
According to the allegations, the Excise Department had decided to return the earnest money deposit of about Rs 30 crore to a successful tenderer against the prescribed rules. Even though there was no enabling provision, exemption on tender license fee was allowed from December 28, 2021 to January 27, 2022 due to COVID-19.
This allegedly caused a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer, which has been set up on a reference to the Union Home Ministry following the recommendation of Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena. (ANI)
