The Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday has sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to CBI custody for 3 days in connection to the alleged liquor policy scam.
The central agency, which arrested Kejriwal earlier that day, had initially requested 5 days. During the hearing, the CBI emphasized the necessity of Kejriwal’s custody to confront him with other accused individuals and essential documents.
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Advocate DP Singh, representing the CBI, revealed that Kejriwal was approached about the excise policy even before its formulation. “We have a statement from Magunta Srinivas Reddy and evidence showing that the South Group influenced the policy,” Singh stated. He noted that the policy was created during the Covid-19 peak, adding, “Who was at the helm of affairs? It is the Chief Minister.” Singh also mentioned that the South Group traveled to Delhi by private plane during the pandemic, leading to the policy’s creation based on their report.
The controversial new policy increased liquor vendors’ profit margins from 5% to 12%, allowing previously excluded vendors to participate. Singh highlighted Kejriwal’s pivotal meeting with Magunta Reddy, a key figure in the South Group, on March 16. During this meeting at the Delhi Secretariat, Reddy sought Kejriwal’s support in the liquor business, to which Kejriwal agreed, asking Reddy to provide funds to AAP.
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Singh further revealed that BRS leader K Kavitha contacted Reddy on May 19, seeking a meeting.
According to the CBI, Kejriwal directed Reddy to meet Kavitha, who demanded Rs 15 crore. “All this is done with the knowledge and connivance of Arvind Kejriwal,” the central agency told the court. The CBI advocate sought Kejriwal’s custodial interrogation, saying he was not even recognizing that Vijay Nair was working under him. “He (Kejriwal) says Vijay was working under Atishi Marlena and Saurabh Bharadwaj. He pushed the entire onus on Manish Sisodia and said he has no idea about the excise policy,” Singh told the court. “We need to confront him with documents that we have. We are not asking him to admit to something,” the counsel said, suggesting that Kejriwal was not cooperating as he was denying simple knowledge.
