Delhi's first Deputy Chief Minister, Manish Sisodia, has been arrested over corruption allegations, which he denies, but said he would cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The official said on Sunday that he would not resist and work with law enforcement personnel in their probe of the excise policy case. He also asserted that he does not care whether or not he goes to jail over what he called "false allegations."
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Arrested
Before going to the CBI headquarters for questioning regarding the case, he said, "I can go to jail a number of times, and I am not afraid. When I left my job as a journalist, my wife supported me, and even today, my family is standing by my side."
Sisodia holds the education portfolio in the Delhi government, and he said that students need to continue to work hard despite the possibility of him going to jail. He added that he would still monitor their performance behind bars if law enforcement detained him, as per the Deccan Herald.
Also, Sisodia held the Finance portfolio in the Delhi Cabinet and was originally summoned last Sunday. However, he sought deferment of his questioning, citing the ongoing budget exercise, which prompted the CBI to ask him instead to appear on Feb. 26. He made the remarks of cooperating in a Twitter post before officials took him in.
On the other hand, several AAP leaders claimed that some of their councilors were placed under house arrest to prevent them from visiting Raj Ghat. In a statement, AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that police were at officials' houses and prevented them from going outside.
Adil Ahman, the leader of the AAP, alleged that their councilors were placed under house arrest by the BJP as they were "scared of their party." He argued that the situation is a black day for democracy as the BJP is trying to stop their leaders.
Allegations of Corruption
After Sisodia's arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann visited the deputy chief minister's residence to meet with the latter's family members. Mann criticized the BJP for Sisodia's arrest, arguing that it was an "insult" to the education that lakhs of children are getting in Delhi, according to Tribune India.
Sisodia's arrest was in connection with alleged irregularities with a liquor policy in Delhi. The policy saw the opening of new alcohol shops and was later dropped after law enforcement began an investigation into the issue.
However, the detainee and his Aam Aadmi Party, while denying the allegations, argued that governing BJP was using what they called "dirty politics." Corruption issues have become a sensitive matter for the AAP, which emerged from a major movement against corruption over a decade ago.
The party is trying to establish itself as a key opposition force to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist BJP. It has already taken control of the Punjab state and the capital region, Delhi, said BBC.