THE CENTRAL Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Sunday questioned Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal for nine hours in connection with the excise policy case even as his party leaders held protests in different parts of the national capital, accusing the central probe agency of acting at the behest of the BJP.
After the questioning, Kejriwal told reporters outside his Civil Lines home that he was asked 56 questions. Thanking CBI officials for their hospitality, he said, “They asked me questions very politely. I answered all the questions they asked me. As I said earlier also, we have nothing to hide…”
“They asked me several questions, why did you bring this policy, when was it prepared, this and that… I believe that this case is completely false… They don’t have even a shred of evidence,” he said.
CBI spokesperson R C Joshi said Kejriwal was issued a notice under Section 160 CrPC for his examination in the case. “He joined the investigation today and his statement has been recorded under Section 161 CrPC. The statement will be verified and collated with the available evidence and further investigation of this case is continuing,” Joshi said.
The CBI had on Friday summoned the Chief Minister more than a month after the arrest of his former deputy Manish Sisodia in the same case. Sisodia was named in the FIR as an accused, but not Kejriwal. This is the first time Kejriwal was called for questioning by the CBI.
“The CBI had registered a case against the then Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of Excise, GNCT of Delhi and 14 others for investigation into allegations of irregularities in framing and implementation of Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 and extending post tender benefits to private persons. After investigation, a chargesheet was filed by the CBI on November 25, 2022 against the CEO of a Mumbai-based firm and six other accused persons…,” Joshi said.
Flanked by almost a dozen top party leaders, Kejriwal, who reached the CBI headquarters at 11.08 am and left around 8.30 pm, Kejriwal said, “The AAP is kattar imaandar… kattar imaandaari is our basic ideology. We will die, but will not do corruption. This is the only reason they want to sling mud at us.”
He said the Centre and BJP were troubled because the AAP was growing quickly. “AAP is being discussed everywhere across the states. AAP is growing very fast, it has formed governments in Delhi and Punjab, and today we are a national party. This is why they want to destroy the AAP. But this won’t happen because the people of this entire country are with us,” he said.
The CBI had earlier examined C Arvind, a DANICS officer who was secretary to Sisodia earlier.
Among the questions put to Kejriwal was one about an alleged video call with one of the main accused, Sameer Mahendru. CBI officials said they found in their probe that during the call, Kejriwal allegedly told Mahendru that “Vijay Nair is his boy” and that Sameer should “trust him and carry on with him”. Nair, AAP’s communication in-charge, was arrested on September 28.
Earlier in the day, AAP leaders held protests in different parts of the national capital, accusing the CBI of acting at the behest of the BJP.
The BJP denied the allegation, saying probe agencies such as the CBI and ED work on the basis of facts, as it demanded Kejriwal’s resignation, accusing him of involvement in the “scam”.
Officials at the Delhi Police Headquarters said 1,350 people were detained and others were removed from the protest sites.
The AAP also alleged that around 50-60 party leaders and ministers from Punjab were stopped from entering Delhi at the Singhu and Tikri borders. Those who were allowed to enter were later detained in Outer Delhi or South Delhi.
Senior party leaders, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Rajya Sabha MPs Sanjay Singh and Raghav Chadha and some of Kejriwal’s ministers like Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi staged a sit-in protest near Golf Links area before being detained by the police. DCP (South) Chandan Chowdhary told reporters that Section 144 had been imposed in the area.
Before he left for the CBI office, Kejriwal accused the BJP of threatening judges, media persons and politicians with jail. “India is a great country but some anti-national powers are trying to stop the country from progressing. They are trying to stop all the good work happening in the country… These are the same people who used their power and made our country remain backward…for the last 75 years,” he said.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra, when asked about the AAP allegations of misuse of power, said at a press conference in Bhubaneswar that investigation agencies such as CBI and ED work on the basis of facts, not emotions.
Meanwhile, in what could be another flashpoint between his office and the Delhi government, L-G V K Saxena Sunday wrote to Kejriwal over the convening of the one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Monday. Saying there were “grave procedural lapses” in convening the session, he said summoning it would be “committing gross irregularity and illegality”.
The L-G wrote that since the budget session, which ended March 29, had not been prorogued and was adjourned sine die, calling a special session on another issue was irregular.
The AAP hit back with its national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeting, “Let me enlighten L-G saab – Under Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Delhi Assembly, Hon’ble Speaker has the power to call a sitting of the House at any time after the House has been adjourned sine die. However, as per prevailing parliamentary practice, the Speaker convenes only on the recommendation of the Cabinet. The House has not been prorogued and prorogation can be done only on recommendation of the Cabinet.”