The Delhi Police detained Aam Aadmi Party workers who gathered outside Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence to extend their support to Sisodia after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided his premises.
The central probe agency’s searches against the Delhi Deputy CM come weeks after Lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena recommended a probe into the excise policy, which was cleared last year. The agency on Friday raided around 21 locations, including that of Sisodia, former excise commissioner Arav Gopi Krishna.
According to a video shared by news agency ANI, police personnel could be seen taking several AAP workers to custody who were gathered outside Sisodia’s residence.
Police also imposed Section 144 in the area around the minister’s residence, banning large gatherings.
“They’re announcing that they’ve imposed Section 144 here. Nobody raised slogans or misbehaved, we don’t know what they fear. The more they stop us, the bigger we’ll grow,” a protester said.
Ironically, Sisodia was praised on the New York Times front page just a day ago. The Delhi Deputy CM holds finance and excise departments along with the education portfolio in the Delhi Cabinet.
Taking to Twitter, Sisodia said, “I extend my welcome to the CBI. I will cooperate with the investigation so that the truth comes out at the earliest. Till now many cases have been filed against me but nothing has come out. Nothing will come out of it either. My work cannot be stopped for a good education in the country.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also tweeted his support for Sisodia, saying that nothing will come of this raid and that similar incidents have occurred in the past.
“The day on which the Delhi education model was praised and Manish Sisodia’s picture was printed on the front page of America’s largest newspaper New York Times, on the same day centre sent CBI to Manish’s residence. I welcome CBI. We will cooperate fully. There have been many such probes, raids in past. Nothing came out. Nothing will come out this time too,” he said.
Addressing a press briefing in the aftermath of the raids, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “Instead of being happy for Delhi model getting international recognition, PM Modi sent the CBI team to his residence. The only aim is to curb Kejriwal’s popularity and block Delhi’s health and education model.”
