Sisodia is accused no. 1 in liquor scam but Kejriwal is kingpin: Anurag Thakur

“Today's press conference by Manish Sisodia clearly showed how the colour on his face was gone after his scam. He couldn't even answer any questions,” Thakur said at a press conference.

Updated on: Aug 20, 2022, 14:32:37 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Aniruddha Dhar, New Delhi

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Union minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday alleged that Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia is an accused number 1 in the alleged liquor scam case in the national capital, but the kingpin is chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Union minister Anurag Thakur. (PTI file)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday named 15 people, Sisodia, as accused in the alleged Delhi excise scam case. The FIR comes amid raids by the central agency at Sisodia's house and 20 other locations in Delhi-NCR. Besides his residence, officials carried out a search at the deputy CM's car.

“Today's press conference by Manish Sisodia clearly showed how the colour on his face was gone after his scam. He couldn't even answer any questions,” Thakur said at a press conference.

Alleging the AAP is trying to hide excise “scam” with other issues, Thakur took a dig at Sisodia, calling him "Money Shh" as he “makes money and maintains silence”.

Also Read | ‘All CBI officers were…’: Manish Sisodia on 'behaviour' after raid at his house

Thakur's statement comes hours after Sisodia held a press conference a day after the CBI raided his residence where he termed the Excise Policy 2021-22 as the "best policy", rejecting any scam in it, as alleged by the BJP and Congress.

“Manish ji, if your liquor policy was right, why did you take it back? It's like 'chor ki daadhi mei tinka'... why is there a soft corner for liquor businessmen?... I challenge Arvind Kejriwal to come in front of the nation and answer me within 24 hours,” Thakur said.

2024 polls battle between Kejriwal and Modi: Sisodia

Sisodia claimed that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls will be a battle between Kejriwal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who he alleged was using all means to scare the AAP supremo.

Noting that the Delhi excise policy was implemented with complete transparency and there was no scam, Sisodia said they want to stop Kejriwal whose work on education and health is being talked about in the world.

The CBI on Friday morning carried out searches at the residences of Sisodia and IAS officer Arava Gopi Krishna apart from 19 other locations after registering an FIR in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi excise policy.

(With inputs from agencies)

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