Delhi's Liquor Policy Case: CBI Chargesheet Names Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia For The First Time

In the Delhi liquor policy case, Manish Sisodia, Delhi's former deputy chief minister, has been accused in a recent chargesheet along with three others, including Butchi Babu, Arjun Pandey, and Amandeep Dhal.

According to sources, reported NDTV, the agency is still investigating the involvement of other accused in the case.

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Chief Minister, was interrogated by the CBI as a witness for nine hours last week. BRS leader Kavitha, Telangana Chief Minister's daughter, was similarly questioned regarding the case.

Kejriwal dismissed the liquor policy case as "fabricated", alleging that the Centre is targeting AAP since it has acquired a national stature. In a statement to the press, he claimed that such tactics are used to discredit the party's progressive and developmental work.

Sisodia denied wrongdoing in his bail application, claiming the Central agency lacks evidence against him, according to court proceedings.

AAP leader's arrest on 26 February came over six months after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena flagged the issue and a First Information Report was filed.

Sisodia is the only one out of the 10 people arrested in the case who is still in custody, as the rest have been released on bail.

AAP claimed that Sisodia's arrest was an assault on Delhi's governance model.

"You (the BJP) didn't get anything from his house or bank accounts. They haven't been able to prove any allegation against him," the party had said.

The Delhi government's liquor policy of 2021, which was subsequently abandoned, has been linked to allegations of corruption against Sisodia and other individuals.

According to the CBI, liquor companies participated in creating a policy that would result in a 12 per cent profit increase. The agency accuses a group they refer to as the "South Group" of paying bribes for this to happen. The CBI also claims that public officials received six per cent of the profit through intermediaries.

An investigation by the Enforcement Directorate has been launched, alleging that kickbacks were laundered in connection with the liquor policy that was abandoned.

The BJP has claimed that the Delhi government reverted to the old liquor policy after scrapping the new one as a cover-up for the corruption allegations.

Also Read: Uncovering Delhi's Excise Policy Scandal: A Timeline Of 'Corruption'