AAP, BJP lock horns over Delhi CM Kejriwal’s CBI summon in excise policy case

The AAP on Friday alleged that the CBI summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as he spoke about the Adani issue and asserted that such notices will not deter their fight against corruption.

Kejriwal has been summoned by the central agency on April 16 for questioning in the Delhi liquor policy scam case.

This is for the first time that the AAP chief and Delhi chief minister has been called for questioning in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case that led to the arrest of his deputy Manish Sisodia.

The development comes days after the AAP was officially recognised as a national party by the Election Commission.

Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the CBI summon was a conspiracy to arrest CM Kejriwal.

The CBI has summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy scam case on April 16, officials said on Friday. Kejriwal has been asked to be present at the agency headquarters at 11 AM to answer queries of the investigating team, they said.

"Delhi chief minister had spoken about the Adani issue in Delhi Vidhan Sabha. That same day, I had told him that you will be next. Narendra Modi-led Centre is corrupt from head to toe and Kejriwal's fight against corruption won't stop due to such notices," Singh said.

"This notice is a conspiracy to arrest CM Kejriwal. This notice will neither be able to silence the AAP nor Kejriwal," he said.

Days ago, Kejriwal had told the AAP volunteers to be prepared to go to jail if need be and said those who are scared of it should quit the party.

AAP leader and then Delhi's Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested on February 26 in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

He was arrested under Section 120 b (criminal conspiracy), 477 A (intent to defraud) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena last month recommended the CBI probe over alleged violations of rules and procedural lapses in the formulation and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.

Saxena's action was based on a report submitted by Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar.

The CBI alleges that AAP received kickbacks in exchange for benefits in liquor vending.

On the other hand, the BJP has intensified its attack on the AAP convener, accusing him of being the "mastermind" of the alleged liquor policy scam as the CBI summoned him for questioning on April 16 in connection with the case.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, at a press conference, said the day is not far when "three friends" who miss each other - Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain - will sit in the same barrack of Tihar jail.

"The Delhi BJP has all along been saying that Kejriwal is the mastermind of the liquor scam in which his minister Manish Sisodia is in jail. Kejriwal is directly involved in the scam because the excise policy was approved by his Cabinet under his chairmanship," Sachdeva alleged.