CBI questions 3 accused in excise case, studying documents | India News

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Saturday summoned at least three of the accused named in the FIR in the alleged excise policy scam for questioning at its headquarters in Delhi. They were allowed to leave late in the evening after their statements were recorded, sources said, adding that they were likely to be questioned again after the agency studies its answers.
The agency has begun examining the documents seized during the raids at 31 places, including the residence of Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday. The accused were confronted with the “evidence” of financial transactions recovered during the searches, an official said, adding that summons to the other accused will be sent once the process of examining the documents and electronic gadgets as well as the bank transactions was completed.

While the agency remained tightlipped on the identity of those questioned, a source said that the investigating officer intended to first question the liquor licensees and the excise department officials and then move to Sisodia, the top accused in the case.
At least two of the accused named in the FIR are currently abroad and will be questioned on their return. One of them is Vijay Naira known name in AAP circles, who clarified through a statement on Saturday that he had not fled the country as was being claimed in some quarters.

Nair said that he had been abroad for a few weeks and would appear before the CBI whenever required. He claimed to have spoken to a CBI official present at his house over the phone. The CBI didn’t confirm if it had issued lookout notices for stopping any of the accused from leaving the country. The agency had raided Nair’s Mumbai house on Friday during the multi-city swoop which also comprised searches at the office and residence of Sisodia. The agency seized Sisodia’s laptop and mobile phone and will get their content examined forensically.
The sources said that the CBI had obtained search warrants from special judge MK Nagpal at the Rouse Avenue courts on Friday.