BJP Criticizes Kejriwal and Mann for Alleged Involvement in Excise Scandal

The BJP has accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann of being linked to the excise scam, which allegedly involves Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia. The allegations were made by BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who cited a Delhi court’s remarks while rejecting Sisodia’s bail plea. Poonawalla claimed that the court’s findings exposed the “corruption degrees” of Kejriwal and Mann. According to Poonawalla, the court held Sisodia as the “architect” of the suspected scam and found that the “setting and planning” for framing the controversial liquor policy happened at the level of Kejriwal. Poonawalla also alleged that a liquor wholesaler was forced to surrender his license using the Punjab excise department, as the businessman had interests in that state too. The BJP spokesperson claimed that three findings by the court showed that a 100 crore bribe had been taken by Sisodia, the liquor scam was institutional, and investigations were being hampered. The allegations come amid Kejriwal’s attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his education qualification.