Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal addressing a press conference ahead of the CBI summons, at his residence in New Delhi on April 15, 2023
| Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that he would appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) tomorrow after the agency summoned him in connection with the excise policy case, but added that he saw it coming.
“The day I spoke against corruption in Delhi Assembly, I knew I would be [summoned] next, he said at a press conference, in his first reaction since being summoned.
Accusing the CBI and the ED of filing false affidavits, he said they are alleging that his former deputy Manish Sisodia destroyed 14 phones, but the “reality is different”.
“Out of these, four phones are with the ED and one is with the CBI. Most of the other phones are active and being used by volunteers. The CBI and the ED know this. They are filing false affidavits in court,” he alleged. “They’re torturing people to testify against Manish Sisodia and me.
The Chief Minister then added that the ED and CBI had alleged that a ₹100 crore bribe was taken in the excise policy case, but after over 400 raids, the money was not found.
Mr. Kejriwal said no other party has been targeted in the last 75 years as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“… That is because the AAP has given hope to people that it would eradicate poverty and make them educated. They want to trample this hope by targeting us,” he said. The AAP supremo underlined that the excise policy, which is the centre of attention, is an excellent policy and is doing well in Punjab where the party is in power.
(With inputs from PTI)