NEW DELHI: Deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Monday said Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had issued fresh summons to him for questioning on February 26 in the excise policy case and he intended to comply with the request.Sisodia, who is the accused number one in the FIR registered by CBI in the alleged corruption in formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, was earlier called by the investigating agency on February 19. It was deferred after the deputy CM, who also holds the charge of finance department, requested a postponement saying he was busy with the preparation of Delhi budget. During a press conference on Monday, Sisodia said he had received fresh summons. “CBI has called me to appear before it on February 26. I will appear before the investigating agency for questioning on the given date.” Sisodia has been holding the finance portfolio ever since chief minister Arvind Kerjriwal formed the first AAP government in December 2013. Sisodia has so far presented eight budgets in the assembly. Apart from finance, he has the charge of 17 more departments, including home, education, health, power, public works and tourism.Expressing apprehension that he might be arrested, Sisodia alleged on Sunday that the central probe agency was acting on the instructions of BJP to take “revenge” on him after the court’s direction on the MCD mayoral poll. “CBI does everything on the instructions of BJP. The whole preparation was to arrest me and all the lies the BJP is speaking was for this only,” he had told a news channel. Sisodia had also said that being the last week of February, it was a crucial time for him as Delhi’s annual budget was being prepared. He had added that the budget preparations were in last stages and he had sought time from CBI till the end of February.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/excise-case-cbis-new-summons-to-delhi-deputy-cm-manish-sisodia-for-questioning-on-february-26/articleshow/98104026.cms
