The Central Bureau of Investigation, which arrested Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi liquor scam, will press for the custodial interrogation of the AAP leader, saying he did not cooperate during the probe. The CBI said in a statement that Manish Sisodia gave evasive answers during the investigation.
The agency had said, “The Deputy Chief Minister gave evasive answers and did not cooperate with the investigation despite evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested. The arrested accused will be produced before a special court in Delhi.” said in a statement.
The CBI sought Sisodia’s reply on the changes made in the draft excise policy under his supervision.
Legal sources close to the CBI told that the first draft of the excise policy lacked several provisions which were later included in the final draft.
The CBI is relying on a statement made by an Excise Department official who has reportedly said that Sisodia was involved in including these controversial provisions in the final draft.
The CBI had seized Sisodia’s digital devices to verify how these changes were made in the draft policy and whether it was done to benefit some businessmen or not.
The agency will seek Manish Sisodia’s custody saying he is not coming forward about how these controversial provisions were included in the final excise policy when they were not part of the initial draft.
Officials are also looking into this aspect whether any person outside the Excise Department has given these suggestions.
Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on Sunday evening after eight hours of questioning for ‘criminal conspiracy’ and ‘intent to cheat’ under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
An instant case was registered against the Deputy Chief Minister and In-charge Excise Minister and 14 others to probe the matter of alleged irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 and extension of post-tender benefits to private .
The chargesheet was filed on December 25, 2022, against the then CEO of a Mumbai-based private company and six others, the agency said in a statement.