Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was questioned for nine hours in the liquor policy case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, soon after his questioning ended, alleged that he was pressured to quit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and join the BJP. The CBI started questioning Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged scam in Delhi excise policy on Monday. In a late-night statement, the probe agency strongly refuted allegations made by Sisodia and reiterated that questioning was carried out in a professional and legal manner strictly as per the allegations against him in the FIR.
“His statement will be verified in due course and further action taken as per requirements of investigation. The investigation of the case will continue as per law,” the CBI said. Manish Sisodia alleged that pressure was put on him, during interrogation, to quit AAP and join the BJP. The Delhi deputy CM also claimed that he was offered the CM post or face a jail term. However, the CBI officials are not satisfied with the answers of Manish Sisodia in the liquor policy case, sources said. During questioning, the Aam Aadmi Party leader was also confronted with documentary evidence. Sisodia was extensively asked about his association with Vijay Nair, who was arrested earlier in the case, as per sources.
Before arriving at the central probe agency headquarters, Sisodia went to his party office in the morning, from where he proceeded to Rajghat. A large number of his supporters gathered outside his residence and joined him on the way to the CBI office. Several AAP leaders, including MP Sanjay Singh, were detained after they held a massive protest. Around 100 leaders and workers were detained from outside the CBI office. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also came out in support of his deputy and said, “Prison locks will break, Manish Sisodia will be free.”
