‘CBI wants to defame us’: What Kejriwal told Delhi court after being arrested

In the application seeking Arvind Kejriwal's custody, the CBI told the court that he was required to be questioned to unearth “larger conspiracy” in the case

Updated on: Jun 26, 2024, 16:14:02 IST

By HT News Desk

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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday denied giving a statement blaming his colleague Manish Sisodia for the alleged excise policy case.

“I have never given any statement saying that Manish Sisodia is guilty. I have given statement that Aam Aadmi Party, Manish Sisodia & me (Kejriwal) are not guilty,” Kejriwal told the city court where he was produced after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

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“CBI's motive is to defame us. I have never issued any such statement. They are sensationalising the issue. CBI’s idea is to give sensational headlines to the media that Kejriwal shifted the entire blame on Manish Sisodia,” the Aam Aadmi Party convenor said.

Kejriwal made the statement in courtroom after CBI said it needed his custodial interrogation since the CM was failing to recognise that “Vijay Nair was working under him.”

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the CBI on Tuesday.

“Kejriwal had said that Nair was working with Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi Marlena, and the CM is pushing the entire onus on Manish Sisodia & saying that he has no idea about the excise policy,” DP Singh, the special public prosecutor appearing for CBI, told the court.

In the application seeking Kejriwal's custody, the CBI told the court that he was required to be questioned to unearth the “larger conspiracy” in the matter. It also said that the Delhi CM was required to be confronted with evidence and other people accused in the case.

“We could identify a trail of ₹44 odd crore which goes to Goa through hawala channels. The probe agency has evidence in this regard. Chanpreet Singh used proceeds of crime to pay for CMs stay in Goa,” Singh argued.

ALSO READ: ‘Trial court didn’t apply its mind': What Delhi HC said on Kejriwal's bail

Kejriwal's counsel Vikram Chaudhari said that the remand application is “totally vague”. “It’s a classic case of abuse of power. The principles of Arnesh Kumar and Satinder Kumar Antil are required to be applied in “letter and spirit” in this case,” he argued.

Chaudhari pointed out that though Kejriwal’s name was cropping in almost every chargesheet but the CBI chose to maintain “eerie silence”.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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