Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge criticized the alleged misuse of central agencies following the discharge of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Excise Policy case. Kharge accused agencies like the CBI, Income Tax Department, and Enforcement Directorate of being manipulated for political purposes by the BJP. He highlighted the lack of concrete outcomes in most IT and ED raids, suggesting a trend of using these institutions solely for political gains.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari expressed concerns over the situation, emphasizing the need for free and fair elections in Gujarat and Punjab. Tiwari pointed out the alleged strategic actions of the Bharatiya Janata Party using resources for political advantage. JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called for calm, noting that the discharge of Kejriwal by a lower court is part of the judicial process and that the CBI’s approach to a higher court should not cause undue alarm.
In a recent development, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia were acquitted in the Delhi liquor excise policy case. The Rouse Avenue Court cleared the two leaders due to lack of evidence, stressing the importance of a fair investigation for a just trial. The court specifically mentioned the absence of merit in the charges against Sisodia, the failure to establish a criminal conspiracy, and the prosecution’s inability to prove its case. The verdict followed detailed arguments from both the CBI and the defense.
