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NATION FEBRUARY 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

CBI goes after Sisodia in excise case;

AAP links it to BJP loss in Delhi mayoral polls

Delhi Deputy CM says he received the CBI summons on Saturday, just a day after

the apex court direction to Municipal Corporation of Delhi

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi
he CBI will issue a new date to
summon Delhi Deputy Chief
TMinister Manish Sisodia in
connection with the Excise Policy
money laundering case. The CBI
had summoned Sisodia for question-
ing regarding alleged irregularities
in the Delhi excise policy 2021-22,
in response to which the deputy CM
requested the federal agency to call
him any time after February-end as
he was busy preparing the Budget
for the national capital.
“I will visit the CBI office after
February, whenever they (CBI) call
me. As the finance minister, I am re-
sponsible for preparing the Budget.
It is very important. Hence, I have re-
quested the CBI to set a new date to
summon me. I have always cooper-
ated with the agencies,” Sisodia told
media persons earlier on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the AAP leader
linked the CBI summons on him in
the excise policy case to the Supreme
Court’s ruling on the MCD mayor-
al polls on Friday, which he claimed Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addresses the media at his residence, in New Delhi on Sunday (ANI)
was a slap on the BJP’s face. Sisodia
said he received the CBI summons
on Saturday, just a day after the members of the standing committee. our work for the city and its people 7 states.
apex court directed that the election Hinting that the CBI summons to a halt,” he added. The CBI launched a probe in
to Municipal Corporation of Delhi was the BJP’s way of getting back The agency summoned Sisodia the matter on the basis of a report
(MCD) Mayor shall be conducted at AAP after the apex court setback nearly three months after filing a forwarded by the Delhi chief Secre-
first and nominated persons have no over the holding of mayoral elec- chargesheet in the Delhi excise poli- tary to Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor
right to vote in meetings of the Cor- tions in the national capital, Sisodia cy case, officials said. VK Saxena recommending a CBI
poration. said, “If we look at the sequence of However, Sisodia has not been investigation into the matter. The
A bench led by Chief Justice of events, the Supreme Court gave its named an accused in the chargesheet excise policy was passed by Chief
India DY Chandrachud on February decision on MCD polls on Friday filed in the case. Arrested business- Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi
17 directed the authority concerned evening, dealing a blow to the BJP. men Vijay Nair and Abhishek are Cabinet in the middle of the deadly
to issue notice for the election of Just a day later, on Saturday, I re- among the seven accused named in Delta Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
mayor, adding that the first meeting ceived CBI summons (in the excise the chargesheet. In August last year, The Delhi government’s version
of MCD shall be taken place within policy case), which said I was to ap- the CBI searched Sisodia’s bank is that the policy was formulated to
24 hours. The court also directed pear on Sunday, at a time when I locker in connection with the case. ensure the generation of optimum
that the notice will include the date am busy preparing the Budget,” the The deputy CM claimed the sleuths revenue, and eradicate the sale of
on which the election of the mayor, deputy CM said. did not find any incriminating mate- spurious liquor or non-duty paid
deputy mayor and other members “I can accept the BJP coming af- rial in his locker. liquor in Delhi, besides improving
shall be held. ter me after the SC ruling came as a Several raids were conducted at user experience.
Following the Court’s direc- slap on its face. It is the level of pol- 21 places in Delhi and the National It has been alleged that the Del-
tions, L-G V K Saxena approved the itics they resort to. But what I find Capital Region, including Sisodia’s hi government’s policy of granting
proposal of convening the meeting unacceptable and wrong is that they residence, and the premises of four licenses to liquor traders is in the in-
of the Municipal Corporation of are doing this at a time when the public servants last year, according terest of some dealers who allegedly
Delhi on February 22 for the May- Budget is at its finishing stage and to a CBI officer, who further said paid bribes for it, a charge strongly
oral elections, Deputy Mayor and six any delay in the process could bring that the raids were conducted across denied by AAP.

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