ImageCourtesy: The Indian Express
The Delhi Chief Minister, however, ridiculed the raid and claimed that the CBI had raided his office, much against CBI’s explanation. Kejriwal took it to twitter, tweeting about the raid and ridiculing it. Tweeted Kejriwal, “When Modi cudn’t handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice” and called the Prime Minister “coward and psychopath”.
Rubbishing CBI’s claims, Kejriwal tweeted, “CBI lying. My own office raided. Files of CM office are being looked into. Let Modi say which file he wants?”
The CBI’s explanation was reiterated by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha. Jaitley said in the Upper House that Kejriwal’s office was not raided and that the raid was in relation to a case of alleged corruption against an officer of the Delhi government, while further adding that the CBI raid has nothing to do with Kejriwal or his tenure and that the graft case against the officer also pertains to his past.
Countering Jaitley’s claims Kejriwal tweeted, “FM lied in Parliament. My own office files are being looked into to get some evidence against me. Rajender is an excuse.”
According to the explanation offered by the CBI it has registered a case against Kejriwal’s principal secretary Rajendra Kumar on allegations of abusing his official position by favouring a particular firm in the last few years in getting tenders from Delhi government departments and that after having taken warrants searches were being conducted in the office and residence of Rajendra Kumar. The allegations against Rajendra Kumar, the CBI said, were raised by Ashish Joshi, former Member Secretary, Delhi Dialogue Commission
The Aam Aadmi Party condemned the raids, with Somnath Bharti calling it the “darkest day” and Ashutosh asserting that “CBI is lying to the teeth”. The BJP, on the other hand, criticized Kejriwal for the language he used against Prime Minister Modi.
