On February 28, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir described the Delhi Excise Policy Scam and alleged that, “It was an open-and-shut case. They should get what they deserve. This is the 1st time in India that an Education Min will go to Tihar jail that too in liquor scam case. This policy was made to exploit money so they can fight elections with Khalistani’s help”.
The BJP MP said that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders should get “what they deserve”.
He said that if Education Minister Manish Sisodia, in the Arvind Kejriwal Government besides heading the Delhi Government’s Excise Department, has opened schools and colleges, he should show it to the BJP.
“If there was no discrepancy in liquor policy, it shouldn’t have been taken back. This is not the time to give emotional statements. If he (Sisodia) has opened schools, colleges and hospitals, show it to us. He can move to Supreme Court (SC), but for me, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP has been exposed,” he said.
While recalling the AAP supremo’s earlier stand of resignation, Delhi BJP leader Harish Khurana on February 28 demanded the resignation of jailed Ministers of the Kejriwal Government- Manish Sisodia and Satyender Jain.
The BJP leader also said that Sisodia and Jain should step down on “moral grounds”.
This comes after which Manish Sisodia moved Supreme Court challenging his arrest by the CBI in the excise policy scam case in Delhi. Sisodia was arrested on February 26 after 8-hour questioning.
“Manish Sisodia has moved the SC challenging the decision of the court. He has the right to go but a question is raised on moral grounds. Arvind Kejriwal used to say in 2013 that there should be a resignation after any allegation is levelled against anyone. The allegation would be proven later. He had levelled allegations against leaders like Nitin Gadkari, Sheila Dikshit, and P Chidambaram. But today, their one minister is jailed for 8 months, the other is in the police remand,” he added.
“2 Ministers of Delhi are in jail today. You have not sacked Satyender Jain till today. Where is your morality? We demand you (Arvind Kejriwal) to seek his resignation on the basis of morality from both ministers. There are 22 ministries with Sisodia. Would they be run from jail? Isn’t there a Constitutional breakdown in Delhi?” asked the BJP leader.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court on February 28 agreed to hear Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s plea challenging his arrest after he was arrested by CBI on February 27 in connection with the Excise policy scam case.
The plea was mentioned by Abhishek Manu Singhvi seeking an urgent hearing on Sisodia’s plea before the bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
This comes a day after the special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on February 27 granted five days’ remand of Sisodia to the CBI till March 4, to interrogate him in the excise policy case.
Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26.
Aam Aadmi Party leaders and workers staged protests in various states on February 27, crying vendetta behind Sisodia’s arrest and calling for his release at the earliest.
However, the CBI on February 26 released a statement on Sisodia’s arrests, claimed “He gave evasive replies and did not cooperate in the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested.”
The agency further said Sisodia had been summoned earlier on February 19 in connection with the ongoing probe, but had sought a week’s time citing the Delhi Budget.
“The Deputy CM was issued a notice under section 41A of CrPC for attending the investigation on February 19, 2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his preoccupation,” the CBI stated.
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