NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Delhi ministers Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, who have been arrested in different cases, on Tuesday resigned from their posts in the cabinet.
Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accepted their resignation.
Delhi Excise Policy Case Live Updates
The resignation comes moments after the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain arrested Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s petition for quashing the FIR or in the alternative grant him bail from the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
According to the reports, no fresh faces will be inducted, and instead, the portfolios of Sisodia will be allocated to other ministers. Kailash Gehlot and Raaj Kumar Anand are expected to take on the responsibilities previously held by Sisodia.
The CBI on Sunday arrested Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia in connection with their probe into the alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the now withdrawn excise policy 2021-22. The move triggered a political storm in the capital with AAP alleging vendetta.
Sisodia’s arrest came as a jolt for the AAP government. He was handling 18 of the 33 government departments and his able management gave the CM leverage to focus on the party’s expansion beyond the capital and Punjab.
After Satyendar Jain’s arrest, Sisodia was given the former’s portfolios.
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Manish Sisodia appears before CBI, says not afraid of jail
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<p>Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia on Sunday appeared before the CBI for second round of questioning in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. Earlier, he was questioned on October 17, 2022.<br /></p>
<p>Sisodia who has been accused in the CBI FIR, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before arriving at the heavily-barricaded CBI office. </p>
<p>Addressing party workers, Sisodia request supporters not to ‘leave’ his family alone. “I want to request you all not to leave my mother and wife alone.”<br /></p>
<p>Sisodia alleged that conspiracies are being hatched by the CBI and ED and false cases being lodged against AAP leaders.</p>
<p>Why are they sending me to jail? They also know we have not done anything wrong. Modi doesn’t fear Rahul Gandhi, he only fears Kejriwal and AAP. As party grows, there will be more cases, claimed Sisodia. </p>
<p>I am a follower of Bhagat Singh who was hanged for the country. It is a minor thing to go to jail because of such false allegations, said Sisodia.<br /></p>
<p>Arvind Kejriwal has given me a lot of love and respect. It may happen that I have to stay in jail for 8-10 month, but you (Kejriwal) continue serving the nation, said Sisodia.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, AAP leaders protested after as Sisodia appeared before the CBI office.<br /><br /></p>
<p>MP Sanjay Singh and other party leaders were detained by Delhi Police for protesting outside CBI office. <br /></p>
<p>The protesters were detained to ensure that the law and order situation doesn’t go out of hand, said police. “We were protesting peacefully but were detained,” said AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar.<br /></p>
<p>Reacting to Sisodia’s tweet, Kejriwal said, “We will take care of your family Manish, don’t worry.<br /></p>
Jain has been behind the bars for the last one year.
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