Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday was arrested by the CBI after 9 hours of questioning. Manish Sisodia's arrest has sparked a massive uproar on the political front with the opposition slamming the Centre and accusing it of using central agencies to target opposition part leaders. Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday in his tweet expressed his solidarity with Manish Sisodia cautioning the BJP saying, 'what will happen to BJP leaders in the future when they will be out of power.' Raut was also arrested by the ED in the past and is currently out on bail. Now, the question arises what led to Manish Sisodia's arrest or what proves CBI found against Manish Sisodia in the alleged liquor scam in the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22? The answer is Manish Sisodia's WhatsApp chats and a bureaucrat's statement against the Delhi Deputy CM.
What proof CBI has against Manish Sisodia?
A prominent newswire quoted a source alleging that the CBI has retrieved some WhatsApp chats which indicate that the details related to the Delhi Excise Policy were shared with a few businessmen in advance. Apart from Manish Sisodia's WhatsApp chats, a bureaucrat had also recorded his statement against Sisodia. Not only this, the newswire stated that Manish Sisodia allegedly destroyed evidence, however, it cannot be said for sure as the central agency is yet to provide evidence in court. Quoting a source in the known developments, the newswire said, "We asked about the chats and the statement of the bureaucrat… but Sisodia was evasive and did not answer any of the questions. Apart from this, there were a few more grounds that led to the arrest of the Aam Aadmi Party leader.
What did the bureaucrat say against Manish Sisodia?
As per reports, the officer allegedly stated "Sisodia called me to the residence of CM Arvind Kejriwal, where Satyender Jain was also present in Mid March 2021 and gave the copy of the GoM (Group of Ministers) report”. The ‘12% profit margin clause’ reportedly originated from this GoM draft copy. The CBI then recorded the statement of the said officer before a Magistrate under Sec 164 CrPC to make him a prosecution witness in the first week of February. The alleged system seized from Sisodia’s office and his Secretary’s statement led CBI to Sisodia.
What is Delhi's Liquor Scam Case?
Manish Sisodia arrested: What is Delhi Liquor Policy Scam & why Delhi's DyCM was arrested?
Manish Sisodia was head of the Excise department in the national capital on July 30 announced the scrapping of the government’s new liquor rules under Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, allowing only government-owned liquor vendors to operate in Delhi, despite a 27% increase in government revenue amounting to Rs 8,900 crore resulting from the new excise regime for liquor sales. In November 2021, the new liquor policy was implemented and under this, the Delhi Government took an exit from the liquor trade entirely, shutting all government-run vends, and the sale of liquor was handed over exclusively to private players. The Delhi government had stated that the newly passed liquor policy will eliminate the liquor mafia, increase revenue for the government, and enhance the consumer experience, however, Delhi's chief secretary Naresh Kumar’s report released on July 8 said otherwise.
The first alarm in newly formed Delhi Liquor Policy was flagged by Delhi chief secretary Naresh Kumar who found irregularities and procedural lapses in the new liquor policy and sent a report to (then) Lt Governor VK Saxena accusing Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia of providing undue benefits to those holding liquor licenses. He alleged the benefits were extended in return for the money that was used by the AAP in the Punjab Assembly polls (in which Aam Aadmi Party won).