A day after Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that officers of the CBI probing the excise policy case were against Sisodia's arrest but had to “obey their political masters” because of immense pressure.

Sisodia's arrest, one of the high-profile actions against an Opposition leader, came after that of Satyendar Jain, Delhi's then Health Minister, in June last year. Both Ministers have led what the AAP describes as the successful transformation of Delhi's education and health services, contributing to the party's popularity and continued electoral success.

"I am told that most CBI officers were against Manish’s arrest. All of them have huge respect for him and there is no evidence against him. But the political pressure to arrest him was so high that they had to obey their political masters,” Kejriwal said in a tweet. Reacting to his tweet, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya advised Kejriwal not to listen these Intelligence Bureau and CBI officers. “Don’t listen to these IB and CBI officers. Didn’t IB officers tell that AAP was winning Gujarat? We all know what happened.

Besides, it seems CBI officers know that you are the kingpin of Liquor Excise scam and want to arrest you. But for now the noose is around Sisodia’s neck…,” Malviya said in a tweet. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari hit back at Kejriwal, saying everyone knew what the AAP national convener wrote or said was “fabricated”. 

Quote-tweeting Kejriwal, BJP MP Tiwari accused him of fabricating facts regarding Sisodia's arrest and alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister had even lied about an IB report at the time of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

 "Similar kinds of fake news was spread by you regarding IB in Gujarat. Now everyone knows what you write and say is fabricated. Let the law take its course. Liquor Minister's liquor scam probe will grow.  This is your fear," he said.