PremiumThe Delhi Police has tightened security outside the CBI headquarters here as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is set to appear before it on Sunday in connection with the excise policy case, officials said.
Over 1,000 security personnel, including from paramilitary forces, have been deployed outside the CBI headquarters and section 144 of the CrPC has also been imposed in the area to ensure no gathering of more than four persons takes place, they said.
AAP leaders have called for an emergency meeting in national capital Delhi, gfearing the Arvind kejriwal might get arrested by the end of CBI questioning him.
The questioning of CM Kejriwal is underway at the CBI headquarters in the national capital.
Aam Aadmi Party Delhi convenor Gopal Rai has called a meeting at the party office at 5 pm, news agency ANI reported on Sunday. The office bearers, district president, national secretarie
Several senior AAP leaders were on Sunday "detained" by the Delhi Police while they were staging a sit-in to protest against the summoning of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the CBI in connection with the excise policy case.
The detainees included Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi, Kailash Gahlot, Adil Ahmad Khan, Pankaj Gupta and some ministers in the Punjab government.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also joined the sit-in on Archbishop Road, had left the spot before the AAP leaders' detention.
Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed, "The police have arrested all ministers and members. We were peacefully sitting here but the police have illegally arrested all of us."
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader staged protests in several parts of national capital Delhi on CM and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal being summoned by CBI in the excise policy case.
Vehicular movement was choked at the protest sites of Anand Vihar Terminal, ITO Chowk, Mukarba Chowk Peera Garhi Chowk, Lado Sarai Chowk, Crown Plaza Chowk, Dwarka More Sec 6 and Sec 2 Chauraha, Pecific Wala Chowk Subhash Nagar More, Prem Wari Chauraha Ring Road, New Delhi Railway Station Ajmeri Gate Side, Bara Hanuman Mandir, Karol Bagh Chowk, IIT Crossing, ISBT Kashmiri Gate, Raj Ghat and NH 24 near Murga Mandi Gazipur.
AAP MP Raghav Chadha called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Lord Krishna and compared BJP to the fictional evil character Kansa.
"Kansa knew that Lord Shri Krishna would finish him and, hence, made every effort and hatched many conspiracies to inflict harm on Shri Krishna. He could not even harm a hair on his head. Similarly, today the BJP knows that the AAP will bring their downfall," Chadha said.
The Aam Aadmi Party took to the streets in Delhi on Sunday against the CBI for summoning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for interrogation in connection with the excise policy case.
Top leaders of the party, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj, Atishi and Kailash Gahlot, and Rajya Sabha MPs Sandeep Pathak, Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, gathered near the federal agency's headquarters and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Kejriwal's questioning was underway.
Delhi Minister Atishi attacked the BJP-led Centre claiming it was scared of the growing popularity of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scared of the growing popularity of Arvind Kejriwal. This is the reason why the leaders of AAP are being put in jail. This is the reason Arvind Kejriwal has been called for questioning by CBI. They say that it is a scam of thousands of crores but till now they have not been able to prove that even a single rupee was embezzled. The entire country is with Arvind Kejriwal," Atishi told news agency ANI.
Punjab AAP MLAs and ministers have claimed that they have been stoppped from entering national capital Delhi. The party's leaders from Punjab were headed for Delhi in a show support to Chief Minister Kejriwal, who was summoned by the federal agency to its office in the national capital in connection with irregularities in formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy.
"We cannot even enter our capital? @DelhiPolice not allowing my car to enter Delhi," Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said in a tweet.
The ruling party in Punjab claimed that ministers Bram Shanker Jimpa, Dr Balbir Singh and Harjot Singh Bains, and MLAs Dinesh Chadha and Kuljit Randhawa were among those stopped at the Singhu border and not allowed to enter Delhi.
Kejriwal's government formulated an excise policy for 2021-22 intending to revive the liquor industry in the city.
The policy proposed that private businesses would be allowed to run the entire liquor business. However, Delhi's Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena objected, demanding a probe into allegations of irregularities in the regime.
Hitting out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said the former "loves power, position and corruption money" and not the country.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Patra said, "Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference earlier today saying he loves India very much. I wish to tell him that he only loves his power, position and your corruption money. I would advise him not to abuse India," Patra said.
"If Arvind Kejriwal-ji thinks that he can engage in corruption, wearing gloves, in the hope that his actions won't be detected, he is mistaken. Just because one's fingerprints weren't found at the scene of the crime doesn't mean he did not commit the crime," Patra added.
"Kejriwal-ji, you engaged in corruption wearing Manish Sisodia's gloves. You have indulged in corruption in Delhi excise policy. Now, it's time for you to take your gloves off," the BJP leader said.
As Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrived at the CBI office in the national capital on Sunday for questioning in connection with the excise policy case, Rajya Sabha MP and former Congress leader Kapil Sibal termed the summons by the premier investigating agency as "politically motivated".
Sibal said, "There is no doubt this (CBI summons to Kejriwal) is politically motivated".
"Why would you keep Sisodia in jail for so long? Why would you keep Jain in jail for so long? For what purpose? What purpose are they serving?" questioned Sibal, also a senior advocate.
"They (CBI) said kickbacks worth ₹100 crore were received. Can they name one public servant to whom the bribe was paid? Not one. What are they keeping him in for?" he said.
"Why aren't the courts granting him (Sisodia) bail? I think it is unfortunate that the whole system has collapsed," Sibal said.
AAP leaders including Bhagwant Mann, Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and others protested outside the CBI office on Sunday
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is inside the CBI office for questioning in the liquor scam case.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party used activist Anna Hazare to capture power in the name of corruption.
Rijiju also shared portions of an undated interview of Hazare in which the activist purportedly sounded critical of the Delhi excise policy.
"Now they have captured power I am sure they will not even listen to Annaji. Corruption was an excuse to fool Annaji and the people.
"Anna ji was used only to capture Power and to loot the resources in the name of corruption," the Union minister wrote in English and Hindi on Twitter.
A court in Ahmedabad has issued summons to Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh in a criminal defamation complaint for their alleged sarcastic and derogatory statements against the Gujarat University over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's academic degree.
From Bhagwant Mann to Raghav Chaddha, several Aam Aadmi Party leaders were sitting outside the CBI headquarters. At present, Kejriwal is inside the CBI office where he is being questioned, in a case related to Delhi liquor policy. Notably, the Delhi Police clamped Section 144 of the CrPC (Curfew) around CBI headquarters, but AAP leaders have said they would wait for their leader and leave the place once the interrogation of Kejriwal ends.
As AAP ministers and supporters slammed CBI, calling the probe agency the puppet of the central government, a senior official has said, "We investigate the matter on merits".
Kejriwal on Sunday said that the central agency will arrest him if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has given the orders.
List of charges against Arvind Kejriwal:
-Delhi's new liquor policy drafted at Kejriwal's residence
-Delhi CM asked for traders' commission to be hiked
-CM face-timed with scam accused on Nair's home
-Accused Sanjay said that crores given on Kejriwal's orders
To prevent untoward incidents, the Delhi Police has imposed Section 144 of the CrPC Act near CBI HQ and Central Delhi.
Arvind Kejriwal has been taken to the first floor office of the Anti-Corruption Branch of the CBI, which is probing the liquor policy case.
The CBI may ask the Kejriwal about the policy formulation process, especially the "untraceable" file, which was earlier slated to be put before the Council of Ministers.
The agency may also quiz Kejriwal on the statements of other accused, where they have indicated the manner in which policy was allegedly influenced to favour some liquor businessmen and the South liquor lobby.
In addition, the CBI agency might also seek his role in formulating the excise policy and his knowledge about the alleged influence being cast by the traders and South lobby members.
Kejriwal may also be asked if he was involved in the formulation of the policy before it was given approval.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh took a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday. He told media in Hindi that in India, there are two Shahs at present--Amit Shah and 'Tanasha (dictatorship).
Delhi CM entered the reception room of the CBI headquarters today. He will later be taken to the inquiry room. Kejriwal will likely be given a lunch break also during the interrogation.
Arvind Kejriwal has again attacked BJP saying that the saffron party is controlling the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Kejriwal commented while he was on his way to CBI headquarters.
"I am going to the CBI office, and will answer all questions. After 75 years, such a government came to Delhi which created hope. Development has taken place after 75 years," Arvind Kejriwal told media.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leaders, including Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh, are accompanying Kejriwal to the agency office.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat ahead of his appearance before CBI in connection with the liquor scam case.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was also present at Raj Ghat.
Before leaving for the CBI office, Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal reached Raj Ghat. AAP MLAs and MPs have also accompanied the Delhi CM in the Rajghat.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will appear before CBI at 11 am. Kejriwal has left his residence. He held a meeting with the top brass of the Aam Aadmi Party before going to the CBI headquarters, located near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has left for CBI office.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a high-level meeting with top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party today morning ahead of his appearance before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The meeting was attended by Atishi, Kailash Gahlot, Rajkumar Anand, Gopal Rai, Bhagwant Maan, Raghav Chadha, ND Gupta, and many others.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will accompany Arvind Kejriwal to CBI headquarter on Sunday. Several AAP MLAs will also go the CBI office as the Delhi CM will summon the probe agency today at 11 am.
Delhi police on Sunday detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers who were protesting in favour of Arvind Kejriwal at Kashmiri Gate.
You (BJP) say that I am corrupt. I was a Commissioner in the Income Tax department, I could have earned crores if I wanted to. If Arvind Kejriwal is corrupt then there is no one in this world who is honest: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal has slammed PM Narendra Modi-led BJP in fresh video message. He said the saffron party is drunk on power and can go to any extent to repress opposition and dismantle democracy.
Over 1,000 security personnel, including from paramilitary forces, have been deployed outside the CBI headquarters on Sunday. Section 144 of the CrPC has also been imposed in the area to ensure no gathering of more than four persons takes place.
The CBI has summoned Arvind Kejriwal at its office at 11 am, according to a notice issued by the probe agency.
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