Delhi Liquor Policy: CBI Questions 3 Accused Day After Raids at Sisodia's Home

Official said CBI is examining 'incriminating' documents seized during raids conducted in 31 locations on Friday.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official during a raid at the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi Excise Policy, in New Delhi, on Friday, 19 August.

(Photo: PTI)

Amid an ongoing probe into Delhi's liquor policy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday, 20 August, questioned three accused in the alleged corruption case regarding the new Delhi Excise policy.

The CBI recorded the statements of three of the accused as it began questioning in the alleged corruption case, officials were quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The three accused were called to the CBI headquarters where their statements were recorded and they were confronted with some documents of financial transactions recovered during the searches.

Officials said that they are currently examining the ‘incriminating’ documents and electronic gadgets seized earlier during raids conducted at 31 locations, including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, on Friday.

After investigation is completed, the summons will be issued to other accused in the case, said officials.

The Case

The CBI has registered an FIR naming Manish Sisodia as the prime accused in the case relating to irregularities in Delhi's Excise Policy 2021-22, following its 12-hour-long raids at the AAP leader's residence.

The agency named 15 people in its FIR registered on 17 August under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In addition to Sisodia, who also holds the excise portfolio, the CBI has named as accused the then Excise Commissioner Arava Gopi Krishna, the then Deputy Excise Commissioner Anand Kumar Tiwari, Assistant Excise Commissioner Pankaj Bhatnagar, nine businessmen, and two companies.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has condemned the CBI raids and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the central agency has been "asked from above" to harass its leaders.

The BJP asked the Delhi government to come out clean on its excise policy.

(With inputs from PTI.)