Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrested: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged corruption related to the now-scrapped excise policy on the sale of alcohol. He will appear before a designated court on Monday for further custody. The AAP leader underwent a medical examination by government doctors at the CBI headquarters in Delhi after spending the night in the lock-up. The CBI accused Sisodia of providing evasive responses and not cooperating during the investigation, leading to his arrest.
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia Arrested
There is an anticipation of protests by Aam Aadmi Party workers after Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia arrested. AAP has announced a nationwide protest against his arrest today. Security has been increased in various locations across Delhi and other parts of the country.
Sisodia’s arrest is another high-profile action against an opposition leader, following the arrest of Satyendar Jain, Delhi’s then health minister, in June last year. Both Sisodia and Jain are credited for the successful transformation of Delhi’s education and health services, contributing to the party’s popularity and continued electoral success. Their absence from the government would leave Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with no heavyweight lieutenant to implement his governance agenda in Delhi.
Kejriwal said Sisodia is innocent and called his arrest “dirty politics.” The AAP claimed Sisodia was innocent and arrested due to vendetta politics. The BJP said the law was taking its course.
In his letter to Delhiites before leaving for the CBI office for questioning, Sisodia said he might have to stay in jail for a few months but was confident he would be cleared of all charges in court.
The BJP alleged that AAP leaders failed to explain several questionable actions in the Delhi excise policy matter, and agencies look into technicalities, not emotions.
While the Delhi Congress demanded that Kejriwal should also be arrested and called him the “mastermind,” the Trinamool Congress took a swipe at the BJP, saying only agencies like the CBI and the ED remain its “true allies.”
