New Delhi, Apr 17 (FN Bureau) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters after over nine hours of questioning in connection with Delhi excise police case. “I gave all the answers of CBI officers whatever they asked, this alleged excise police scam is fake and false,” he said on Sunday. “They asked me nearly 56 questions regarding liquor policy at length,” he said in a press briefing after coming out from the CBI office Kejriwal denied any truth behind the allegations of a liquor scam in Delhi. The CM was questioned by the CBI for over nine hours today. Kejriwal claimed “the alleged liquor scam is a ‘figment of imagination motivated by dirty politics’ and that the CBI has no evidence to support its allegations.” Earlier in the day, Kejriwal, who was summoned to appear before CBI for questioning in Delhi excise policy case, first visited Rajghat with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann and party workers and proceeded towards CBI headquarters. Kejriwal, just before going to the CBI office, told media persons that he would give all answers with honesty. “I will give all answers with honesty because I did not do anything wrong,” he said. “They threaten everyone to follow their orders otherwise put in jail,” alleged Kejriwal.
Kejriwal alleged that they were very powerful and they could put anyone in jail whether a person does anything or not. “Now do whatever you want. You can’t stop now. Now India will remain the number one country in the world,” said CM. Before, the AAP leaders who were trying to reach the CBI office along with Kejriwal were stopped by the Delhi Police. The leaders decided to sit down for a dharna outside the CBI office demanding for justice were, later, detained by the police and dispersed from the site. The AAP expressed serious concerns over the “curbing of the right to protest” in India by the Central government. The reaction came after the Delhi police detained its functionaries from all over Delhi in an attempt to curb AAP’s protests in opposition to the CBI summon issued to CM Kejriwal. Pankaj Gupta stated that India is a symbol of democracy all over the world and the right to protest is an essential part of democracy. “Around 1350 persons were detained from various places,” said Delhi Police in a statement. Meanwhile, CBI said it has recorded Delhi CM’s statement in Delhi excise case.
“A notice was issued to CM under section 160 Cr.P.C for his examination in this case and answering various questions related to the case. He joined the investigation on Sunday and his statement has been recorded Under Section 161 CrPC,” CBI said in a statement. “The statement will be verified and collated with the available evidence. Further investigation of this case is underway,” it said. CBI had registered a case against the then Deputy Chief Minister and Minister In-charge of Excise, GNCT of Delhi and 14 others for investigation into the allegations of irregularities in framing and implementation of excise policy for the year 2021-22 and extending post tender benefits to private persons. After investigation, one charge-sheet was filed by CBI on November 25 last year against the CEO of a Mumbai based firm and 6 other accused persons and further investigation was being carried out, the statement said.