New Delhi:
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in a birthday greeting for his jailed former deputy Manish Sisodia, posted an old photo of them walking together during what appeared to be a protest.
Mr Sisodia spent his birthday in jail. He is accused of corruption in connection with the introduction of a new liquor policy in Delhi.
In the photo, both Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders look young.
“This friendship is very old. Our affection and trust are very strong,” Mr Kejriwal said in the post on X, formerly Twitter.
“This passion to work for the public is also very old. No matter how hard the conspirators try… this trust, affection and friendship will never be broken,” the prime minister said in the post.
“BJP has kept Manish in jail for the last eleven months by filing false cases. But Manish stands firm against their oppression, has not bowed to their dictatorship so far and will never do so in the future. In this era of dictatorship Manish's courage inspires us all. Congratulations Manish,” said Mr Kejriwal.
I think it's good I think I did good I think I did good है। I think I like it.. I think I did a good job
I think it's been 11 months I think it's okay Yeah… pic.twitter.com/4ICoifHQ4v
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 5, 2024
Mr Kejriwal himself is engaged in a tense battle with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), whose summons he has skipped. The ED has said it will issue a fresh summons.
AAP chief Mr Kejriwal has alleged that the Center wants to stop him from campaigning for the national elections by arresting him. The ED has denied the allegations.
Mr Sisodia's request for a review of the Supreme Court's October 30 judgment rejecting his bail applications was rejected by the court on December 14.
Mr Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 last year for his alleged role in the liquor policy case.
The ED arrested him in a money laundering case arising out of the CBI's first information report (FIR) after interrogating him in Tihar jail. On February 28, Sisodia resigned from the Delhi Cabinet.
The Delhi government introduced the new excise policy on November 17, 2021, but scrapped it in late September 2022 amid allegations of corruption.