In what may be termed as a big blow to the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, CBI has raided his office in the wee hours on Tuesday. The agency also sealed CM’s office later.
Launching a scathing attack on PM Modi and the Central Government for the raids, Kejriwal tweeted:
CBI raids my office
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
When Modi cudn't handle me politically, he resorts to this cowardice
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
Modi is a coward and a psycopath
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
"Mamata Di. This is undeclared emergency", tweets @ArvindKejriwal #CBIRaids
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
According to few reports, however it is being said that it is not the Chief Minister’s office that has been raided but the Principal Secretary’s office has been raided and sealed by the CBI.
Also Read: Rajya Sabha adjourned after uproar over CBI raid
AAP leader Kumar Vishwas however debunked the reports and said that the Chief Minister and Principal Secretary sit in the same office and that very office has been raided and sealed by the CBI. Blaming the Central Government Vishwas said that it is political vendetta by the BJP Government and that they could not come to terms with their defeat in Delhi Assembly elections.
CBI has however clarified on the raids and said that Delhi CM’s office was not the target of the raids but Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar’s office has been raided and sealed and not the CM’s office.
Also Read: Who is Rajender Kumar?
After taking warrants, searches are being conducted in the office and residence of Rajendra Kumar: CBI
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Political slugfest in Delhi escalates, kejri calls names for @narendramodi over Cbi raids on his office @ArvindKejriwal
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
#Breaking CBI sources clarify raids on Cm's office aimed at an official not CM but optics gone wrong @AamAadmiParty
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
AAP, however still maintains that Delhi CM’s office has been raided and that both Kejriwal and Rajendra Kumar share the same office.
Even after CBI’s clarification, Arvind Kejriwal said that his office has been raided and that the CBI is lying:
FM lied in Parliament. My own office files are being looked into to get some evidence against me. Rajender is an excuse
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
I am the only CM who dismissed, on my own, a minister n a senior officer on charges of corruption and handed their cases to CBI(1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
If CBI had any evidence against Rajender, why didn't they share it wid me? I wud hv acted against him(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
CBI lying. My own office raided. Files of CM office are being looked into. Let Modi say which file he wants?
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
राजेंद्र के बहाने मेरे दफ़्तर की सारी फ़ाइल देखी जा रही हैं।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015
A clear intimidation. It’s undeclared martial law like situation: Deepak Bajpai, AAP on CBI raids Delhi CM’s office pic.twitter.com/0Svj0z4To0
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
It's clear,after failing to politically deal with us,now Mr. Modi has declared emergency.Ppl of country will stand up&respond: Deepak Bajpai
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Kejriwal’s deputy Manish Sisodia also claimed that Delhi CM’s office has been raided.
Files in Delhi CM's office are being looked into, they should tell what do they want?-Manish Sisodia, Deputy CM pic.twitter.com/VqGJG1M9IO
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Delhi CM's office on third floor of Delhi Secretariat sealed, staff not being allowed to enter, files being searched on that floor- Sisodia
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
If they wanted to see any file, why did they not inform Delhi CM?: @ashutosh83B, AAP pic.twitter.com/Dj83vlJE3G
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
The Central Government said that CBI is an independent agency and Government has no role in its discourse.
CBI do not function under Govt. Gone are days of Congress when CBI used to be misused: Venkaiah Naidu pic.twitter.com/87ni6pZsuA
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
It hs become fashion fr Delhi CM to quarrel with Central Govt&to take PM's name for everything:Venkaiah Naidu on CBI raid at Delhi CM office
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Reaction from all political parties is pouring thick and fast:
If there’s substantial case against a person who may happen to be Secy to CM,he needs to be probed: Prashant Bhushan pic.twitter.com/VLRA08lfrt
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Allegations against Rajendra Kumar are very serious: @rsprasad,Union Minister on CBI raids Delhi Sec pic.twitter.com/IJiZ5TOcx1
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Should we presume that you did not undertake any due diligence while appointing your Secretary: @rsprasad
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
AAP came into existence on plank of anti-corruption movement, but now he's supporting corruption: Prakash Javadekar pic.twitter.com/cbIwZYrqxp
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
It is not the right thing to do, says Ram Jethmalani on CBI raid conducted at Delhi Secretariat pic.twitter.com/F0IPz2HMsv
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Arvind Kejriwal must introspect and apologise for using such words against the PM: Shrikant Sharma, BJP pic.twitter.com/hL5iyVeYZg
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 15, 2015
Delhi CM must apologise for using words like 'cowardice' for the PM: @upadhyaysbjp, @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/rPbDl5Z3U8
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
CBI is an autonomous body, Central Govt does not interfere with its functioning at all: Jitendra Singh (MoS, PMO) pic.twitter.com/27EPz3WMGD
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Also Read: After CBI raids, Twitterati has a field day
Meanwhile, CBI has issued a fresh statement on the raids against Rajender Kumar.
From 2007-2014,he(Rajendra Kumar) along with 6 others abused his position to award contracts: Devpreet Singh,CBI pic.twitter.com/vetBrnE4Ai
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Reports from certain quarters regarding search at Delhi CM's office are completely baseless: Devpreet Singh, CBI pic.twitter.com/mnjkKMiyAB
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Rajendra Kumar is just an excuse, I’m the real target: Kejriwal
On Tuesday evening Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during media briefing said Rajendra Kumar is just an excuse, he is the real target.
Rajendra to sirf bahaana hai, Kejriwal nishaana hai: Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/dJUfwwCo2F
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) December 15, 2015
Further he also claimed that CBI had come to search for DDCA files which have Arun Jaitley’s name.
Which file was CBI looking for in my office? DDCA files in which Arun Jaitley is in dock. I was about to order a commission of enquiry
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 15, 2015