Arvind Kejriwal has been called to testify and is not a defendant in the case concerning Delhi's liquor policy.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will question Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today in relation to the liquor policy case, where his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, was arrested last month on corruption charges related to the same case.
Below are 10 important details related to this significant event
1. Hours before leaving for questioning at the CBI headquarters, Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the CBI might have been directed by the BJP to arrest him. He affirmed that he will answer the questions honestly since he hasn't committed any wrongdoing. He further stated that the BJP, who are intoxicated with power, are not concerned about anyone else. They boastfully threaten politicians, judges, and the media, warning that they will imprison anyone who does not comply with their orders.
2. The Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, is expected to reach the CBI headquarters located near Lodhi Road in central Delhi at 11 am, for questioning in the liquor policy case. Along with him, Bhagwant Mann, the Chief Minister of Punjab and also a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), will accompany him to the CBI office.
3. Several AAP MPs and Delhi ministers are expected to arrive in solidarity with Mr. Kejriwal, whose interrogation is the first of its kind for a sitting Chief Minister in recent years.
4. Tight security arrangements have been made by the Delhi Police around the CBI headquarters, where Mr. Kejriwal is scheduled to appear for questioning. It is anticipated that a significant number of AAP supporters will gather to protest.
5. The Delhi Chief Minister, Mr Kejriwal, has been called as a witness and is not facing any charges in the Delhi liquor policy case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have accused the Delhi government of corruption in the development of the policy to benefit a liquor lobby.
6. According to news agency PTI, the CBI is expected to ask Mr Kejriwal about the statements made by other accused in the Delhi liquor policy case regarding the process of framing the policy and the alleged involvement of a "south lobby."
7. According to reports, the CBI is investigating the alleged role of the "south lobby" comprised of businessmen and politicians, in influencing the liquor policy to favor them through the use of middlemen, traders, and bureaucrats. The Telangana Bharat Rashtra Samithi leader K. Kavitha has already been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the case.
8. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and various opposition parties have accused the central government of misusing investigative agencies to target and harass them. Some believe that the government's ultimate aim is to jail Mr Kejriwal ahead of the national election next year as plans for a united opposition start to take shape.
9. Upon receiving the summons, Mr. Kejriwal claimed that the CBI is obligated to follow the orders of the BJP and insinuated that the BJP might have instructed the CBI to arrest him. He further stated that he will cooperate with honesty during questioning since he has done nothing wrong. "If Arvind Kejriwal is corrupt then there is no one in this world who is honest... But if BJP has ordered the CBI to arrest me, then the CBI will obviously follow their instructions," Mr. Kejriwal said.
10. The ruling party, BJP, has dismissed accusations of using central agencies to target opposition leaders. BJP leaders have urged Mr Kejriwal not to deflect attention from the investigation, which is about accountability rather than politics. "The corrupt face of AAP CM Arvind Kejriwal is exposed. He should reveal to the CBI how much money he and his colleagues made from the liquor scam. It's ironic that Kejriwal, who leads a cabinet of corrupt ministers, calls himself the only honest man in India. This is a perfect example of ulta chor kotwal ko dante," tweeted Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday, using a popular Hindi phrase about a thief scolding a cop.
