Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Feb 19: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who was called by CBI on Sunday morning in connection with the alleged excise policy case, today requested the Central Bureau of Investigation for a week’s time to appear for questioning. Sisodia and others face corruption allegations.
Sisodia, told reporters that he needs at least a week before he can go to the CBI’s office as he has been preparing the national capital’s Budget for fiscal 2024 adding that he will fully cooperate with the central agency.
“I will visit the CBI office by the end of February, whenever they (CBI) will call me. Being the Finance Minister of Delhi, preparing the budget is very important, so I have requested to shift the date. I have always cooperated with these agencies,” said Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia.
Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation and he was scheduled to visit the investigating agency’s headquarters, situated at Lodhi Road CGO complex, at 11 am. Before this, a CBI team visited the Delhi deputy chief minister’s office at the Delhi Secretariat on January 14.
“I have always cooperated with them and will continue to do so. This time, however, is crucial for the budget, each day is important, and a disturbance can affect budget preparations and this is why I have sought more time. I’m sure CBI officials will understand that being the Finance Minister, my role in finalising the budget is very crucial,” he added.
The BJP’s Delhi unit on the other hand, termed Sisodia’s request an excuse and said his body language indicates that he is scared.
“Budget is an excuse, the real objective is to run. He was claiming till yesterday that there is no scam, but today’s his body language indicates that he is scared. Scared of tough questions?” Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana said in a statement.
Notably, Sisodia and 14 others have been named as accused in the alleged scam as part of which, among other irregularities, blacklisted entities were reportedly allowed to sell liquor in the city. According to the FIR, this allegedly led to a loss of Rs 150 crore to the state exchequer. The FIR alleged Sisodia and other AAP leaders had received kickbacks, which were used to influence the Punjab Assembly elections. The AAP has denied the charges. The action was taken against bureaucrats, including then excise commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna and deputy excise commissioner Anand Kumar Tiwari, in addition to other government officials, alleged middlemen and liquor retailers.
