CBI grills Kejriwal over Delhi liquor excise policy case

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was questioned for close to eight hours by the CBI today in the liquor excise policy case, allegedly involving  corruption in a quid pro quo to throw open the sale of retail liquor in the national capital to private players for the first time.

Mr Kejriwal’s former cabinet colleague deputy Manish Sisodia, who held the excise portfolio, was arrested in the case last month.

According to the CBI, the secretary to Manish Sisodia told investigators that the draft liquor policy was given to him in March 2021 by Sisodia at Kejriwal’s home.

The secretary, C Arvind, has given the statement before a magistrate, which makes it admissible as evidence in court. The CBI wanted to record Kejriwal’s statement on the issue.

The excise policy was scrapped by the Kejriwal government after Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal decided to refer the case to the CBI.