New Delhi, Apr 16 : On the eve of his appearance before the CBI, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Sunday that the BJP may have directed the agency to arrest him, and that they are “very powerful and can send anyone to jail.” Kejriwal said in a five-minute video message on Twitter that he would answer the CBI’s questions in the excise case truthfully and honestly because he has nothing to hide. “I was summoned by the CBI today, and I will give all answers honestly.” These people wield enormous power. “They can put anyone in jail, whether or not they have committed a crime,” the AAP leader said. “Since yesterday, all of their leaders have been screaming at the top of their lungs that Kejriwal will be arrested, and I believe the BJP has also instructed the CBI to arrest Kejriwal.” If the BJP has issued an order, who is the CBI? “The CBI is going to arrest me,” he declared. Kejriwal will appear before the CBI on Sunday in connection with the excise policy case, accompanied by his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann and cabinet colleagues. The AAP leader claimed in the video that the BJP has a “ego” for power and threatens everyone. “They keep threatening everyone with jail if they don’t obey us. These people are threatening to imprison Kejriwal, but what will happen? “He inquired. When asked about his journey, Delhi Chief Minister said: “You’re saying Kejriwal is a crook. I used to work in income tax, where I could make as much money as I wanted. I quit my job and spent many years working in Delhi’s slums.” According to the AAP leader, if he is corrupt, no man in the world is honest.
“Kejriwal lives for the country and will die for the country; if you call me 100 times for the CBI and ED, I will go 100 times,” he said, adding, “I love the country and Bharat Mata, and I am willing to sacrifice my life for it.”
Kejriwal has been summoned as a witness and is not a defendant in the excise policy case in which his former deputy Manish Sisodia was arrested on February 26 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The ED arrested Sisodia last month. The Delhi government’s excise policy for 2021-22, which grants licences to liquor traders, is said to have favoured certain dealers who allegedly paid bribes for it, a charge strongly denied by the AAP.
According to officials, the CBI may also question Kejriwal about the statements of other accused, who have indicated how policy was allegedly influenced to favour some liquor businessmen and the “South liquor lobby.”
Furthermore, the agency may seek his involvement in the formulation of excise policy as well as his knowledge of alleged influence wielded by traders and ‘South lobby’ members, according to officials.