Delhi Chief Minister & AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday was arrested by the CBI from Rouse Avenue Court after a hearing. After Delhi CM Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI, he withdrew his petition from the Supreme Court challenging a stay on grant of bail after his arrest in March - in the same case - by the ED. However, what sparked a massive controversy when multiple videos and reports went viral on social media with the claims that Arvind Kejriwal in his statement to the CBI blamed the liquor policy case on his former deputy i.e. Delhi's former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Now, the question arises did Arvind Kejriwal blame Manish Sisodia over the alleged Delhi liquor policy case? Below is what you should know-
The CBI informed a Delhi court on Wednesday that during questioning, CM Arvind Kejriwal blamed his former deputy Manish Sisodia for recommending the privatisation of liquor stores in the city under the now-scrapped excise policy. However, Arvind Kejriwal denied these claims. CBI revealed Arvind Kejriwal's statement before the court after arresting him in the alleged liquor policy case. The Aam Aadmi Chief (AAP) was also questioned by the CBI on Tuesday.
Did Arvind Kejriwal blame Manish Sisodia for the liquor scam?
The answer is no. Arvind Kejriwal addressed the city's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday and said, "A false narrative is being spread by CBI sources in media that I have put the blame of liquor policy scam on Manish Sisodia. I have not made any such statement blaming Manish Sisodia or any other person. I had said that Manish Sisodia is innocent. Aam Aadmi Party is innocent. I am innocent. But CBI's plan is to malign us in the media. Please record that CBI sources have spread fake news in the media."
"I did not make any statement that Manish Sisodia is guilty," Kejriwal said adding "Manish Sisodia is absolutely innocent. Their aim is to defame us. I told the CBI yesterday that these are absurd allegations."
On this, the CBI's legal team said, "We have talked on facts." Thereafter, the court objected to the CBI’s assertion that the AAP National Convenor placed the "entire onus" of the alleged liquor privatisation issue on Sisodia. The court stated, "We have read the statement made by him. Kejriwal has not made any such statement."
Accusing CBI of twisting facts, Arvind Kejriwal clarified, "They asked me about objectives [of excise policy]. I said increasing revenue, and that there were long lines [outside liquor vends]. I called Sisodia and gave him directions. Then [CBI] asked whose idea was privatisation. I said it was not my idea."