Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday “welcomed” the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)’s preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities in the construction of his bungalow while asserting that nothing will come out of it as there “is nothing wrong”. He also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed the action showed his “nervousness”. The Aam Aadmi Party national convener said that he may have faced the maximum number of inquiries in the world during his tenure as chief minister in the last eight years, and added he will not bow down.

Reacting to the CBI action, Kejriwal told reporters on the sidelines of an event, “This is not the first time. The prime minister is nervous. This shows his nervousness. The inquiry against me is nothing new. So far, inquiries have been conducted against me in more than 50 cases in the last eight years.”

Slamming the BJP, Kejriwal said, “It was said that Kejriwal committed bus scam, liquor scam, road scam, water scam, electricity scam and scam in school buildings. They have lodged more than 33 cases against me.

“It was said that Kejriwal committed scam in building schools, bus scam, liquor scam, road scam, water scam, electricity scam. I may have faced the maximum number of inquiries in the world. Welcome this new inquiry. Nothing was found in any case. Nothing will be found in this also. What will you get when there is nothing wrong?” he said.

Kejriwal said, “What else can be expected from a fourth pass king? Just keep playing the game of inquiry-inquiry for 24 hours, or keep giving speeches. Don’t do any work. He wants me to bow down before him. But I am not going to bow down before them, even if they conduct as many fake inquiries as they want or file as many cases as they want.”

“I also challenge him - just as nothing was found in all the previous inquiries, similarly if nothing is found in this inquiry too, will he resign for conducting a false inquiry?” the chief minister said.

The ruling Aam Admi Party in Delhi rejected the allegation of any wrongdoing and accused the BJP of “using all its power to finish AAP”. The AAP alleged that the development was part of the BJP’s efforts to stop Arvind Kejriwal-led party from working for the people.

“This is the reason why the country’s best health and education ministers Satyendar Jain and Manish Sisodia were put behind bars,” it alleged, “The BJP is using all its power to finish the AAP,” the party alleged. There is “only one party which is AAP that seeks votes on the basis of doing good work in the fields of health and education but, the BJP does not want the poor people should have good education and excellent health facilities,” it said.

The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry to look into alleged “irregularities and misconduct” by unidentified public servants of the Delhi government in connection with the construction of a new official residence for the chief minister.

The preliminary enquiry is the first step to ascertain if the allegations have prima facie material to proceed with a regular FIR. The anti-corruption branch of the CBI has demanded from the PWD records related to the approval and recommendation of its officials related to alteration, tender documents, bids submitted by contractors, approval of building plans and requests from the client for superior specifications like modular kitchen, marble flooring and other ornamental work, official said.