“Don’t care if I have to stay in jail for few months”: Manish Sisodia

Manish Sisodia, the Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, said on Sunday that he would “fully cooperate” with the CBI in its ongoing investigation into the alleged excise policy scam. According to sources, there was heavy security deployed outside Sisodia’s residence as AAP supporters gathered ahead of his questioning by the central probe agency in the liquor policy case.

Sisodia said on Twitter ahead of his questioning in the case that he doesn’t mind being “jailed” for a few months. “Going to CBI again today. I will fully cooperate in the entire investigation. The love of lakhs of children and the blessings of crores of countrymen are with us. I don’t care if I have to stay in jail for a few months,” Sisodia posted.

However, Sisodia is not named as an accused in the case’s chargesheet. The chargesheet names seven defendants, including arrested businessmen Vijay Nair and Abhishek. In connection with the case, the CBI searched Sisodia’s bank locker in August of last year. The deputy CM claimed that the sleuths found no evidence of wrongdoing in his locker.

According to a CBI officer, several raids were conducted last year at 21 locations in Delhi and the National Capital Region, including Sisodia’s residence and the offices of four public servants. The raids were also conducted in seven states.

The CBI opened an investigation into the matter after receiving a report from the Delhi chief secretary recommending an investigation by the central agency.