Members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged protests in several parts of the national capital after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) summoned its leader and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy scam.
Many AAP leaders opposed the inquiry CM Kejriwal, Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed, “The police have arrested all the ministers and members. We were sitting here peacefully but the police arrested all of us illegally.”
Those detained include Sanjay Singh, Raghav Chadha, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Atishi, Kailash Gehlot, Adil Ahmed Khan, Pankaj Gupta and some ministers of the Punjab government.
Vehicular movement was stopped at Anand Vihar Terminal, ITO Chowk, picket sites. Mukarba Chowk Peeragarhi ChowkLado Sarai Chowk, Crowne Plaza Chowk, Dwarka Mod Sector 6 and Sector 2 Chowk, Prashant Wala Chowk Subhash Nagar Chowk, Prem Wari Chowk Ring Road, New Delhi Railway Station Ajmeri Gate Side, Bada Hanuman Mandir, Karol Bagh Chowk, IIT Crossing, ISBT NH 24 Near Kashmere Gate, Raj Ghat and Murga Mandi Ghazipur.
Due to the protest, there was a spiral queue of vehicles on the roads.
Commuters stranded on NH-44 and GT-Karnal Road tweeted pictures showing long queues of vehicles.
Police officers, with the traffic unit deployed at several places, persuaded the protesters to move off the roads and allow vehicular movement.
“We have deployed adequate force at these places. But the protesters are on dharna, so we are persuading them to move out as they are causing huge traffic jams. If they are refusing to cooperate, we will give them opportunities Removing from.” said a senior police officer.
The CBI has summoned Kejriwal to its office as a witness in the excise policy case to answer the questions of the probe team. As per the notice issued by the agency.
Kejriwal’s former deputy in the Delhi government, Manish Sisodia, was arrested last month in this case.
CBI officials said they asked Kejriwal to appear on Sunday as the offices remain closed in the area.
The agency adopted the same strategy when Sisodia was called to the agency headquarters, where he was questioned for eight hours before being taken into custody.
the charges are related Delhi GovernmentExcise Policy of Tea for 2021-22. The CBI is probing allegations of bribery being paid by liquor traders to get licences.
The AAP has vehemently denied the allegations but its government later canceled the policy.
A CBI spokesperson said after the FIR was registered that it was also alleged that several irregularities were committed including amendment of excise policy, giving undue benefits to licensees, exemption/reduction in license fee, extension of L-1 license without approval etc. Gone. Filed on August 17, 2022.
The CBI had filed a charge sheet against the seven accused on November 25.
It alleged in the chargesheet that the excise policy was designed to promote cartelization and monopoly at the wholesale level.
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