Most CBI Officials were against Sisodia’s arrest: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the arrest of his deputy Manish Sisodia was due to political pressure and claimed that most CBI officials were against his remand. "I was told that most CBI officers were against Manish's arrest. They all have huge respect for him and there is no evidence against him. But the political pressure to arrest him was so high that they had to listen to their political masters," Kejriwal tweeted on Monday.

Speaking to a report, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said Kejriwal's claim was based on information received from "specific sources" in the CBI. "BJP wants to crush AAP, this is an emergency. Few right minded people in CBI know that Mr. Modi is not a permanent fixture," he added. After more than eight hours of questioning, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia was arrested on Sunday evening by the CBI, which is probing alleged irregularities and corruption in the design and implementation of the now scrapped excise duty policy for 2021-22. He will be brought to Rouse Avenue Court today for a bond hearing.

Even before Sisodia appeared for questioning at the CBI headquarters, top AAP leaders and rank-and-file workers took to the streets in protest and went around saying that the senior party leader's arrest was imminent. Sisodia also said he expected his arrest on "false allegations". The Delhi minister, who holds the excise, finance and education portfolios, was later arrested and charged with "criminal conspiracy" and "intent to defraud" under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The central agency has accused Sisodia of offering undue benefits to liquor vendors, offering an illegal discount to the liquor lobby and changing the policy after Delhi Governor VK Saxena's nod. Manish Sisodia gave evasive answers and did not cooperate with the investigation, the CBI said in a statement. In a veiled attack on the BJP-led Centre, Sisodia said, "We are witnessing the arrest and imprisonment of gentlemen, patriots, good and honest people in the country. No action has been taken against those who looted crores of rupees in banks because it is their friends."

He also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is afraid of AAP's growing popularity in the country. "Modiji is afraid of Arvind Kejriwal. He is not afraid of Rahul Gandhi or any other leader but only Arvind Kejriwal. They want to trample AAP and Kejriwal. As AAP's popularity increases, false cases against us will also increase." get up,” he said. AAP has announced nationwide protests in response to Sisodia's arrest in the liquor politics case. Security has been beefed up in central Delhi, with several AAP leaders claiming to have been detained in anticipation of protests.