Fact Check: Arvind Kejriwal clarifies that he did not put the blame on Manish Sisodia

On March 21, 2024, AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. He was initially granted bail by a trial court, but this was subsequently stayed by the Delhi High Court. Special Judge Sunena Sharma reserved her order on June 28, 2024, on the CBI's plea seeking 14-day judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the corruption case.

Amidst this backdrop, a 1.24-sec video is in circulation on social media, claiming that to save himself, Kejriwal placed the entire allegation of the liquor scam on his party minister Manish Sisodia. The video appears to be a clip from a news channel.

Users shared the video on different social media platforms with the caption: “Arvind Kejriwal puts the entire blame of the Delhi Liquor scam on Manish Sisodia and washes his hands off the matter. He even said Vijay Nair reported to Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj. Sisodia ko bali ka bakra bana diya @ArvindKejriwal ne”.

Fact Check: We found the claim to be false. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal denied the statement. Kejriwal revealed, 'I said I am innocent, Manish Sisodia is innocent, AAP is also innocent.'"

AAP shared a clarification on their social media: "CBI की तरफ से मीडिया में प्लांट किया जा रहा है कि मैंने सारा दोष मनीष सिसोदिया पर डाल दिया है, मैंने ऐसा कोई बयान नहीं दिया है, मैंने कहा है मैं भी निर्दोष हूं। मनीष सिसोदिया भी निर्दोष हैं, AAP निर्दोष है। कोर्ट में जज ने भी माना- केजरीवाल ने ऐसा कोई बयान नहीं दिया जो CBI दावा कर रही है।"

This means that the CBI spread the false information that Kejriwal put the entire allegation on Manish Sisodia. In his statement, Kejriwal said, "I am innocent, Manish Sisodia is innocent, AAP is also innocent." The court judge also agreed that Arvind Kejriwal did not make the statement claimed by the CBI.

During the search, we found Live Law India shared a post: “Arvind Kejriwal addresses court: CBI sources se media me chalwaya ja raha hain ki maine ek bayaan diya hain ki maine apna sara dosh Manish Sisodia iske doshi hain. Maine Aisa koi bayaan nahi diya hain ki Manish Sisodia doshi hain| ya saari cheez ka koi doshi hain. Maine kahan tha Manish Sisodia nirdosh hain, AAP nirdosh hain, mai nirdosh hu. Inka saara plan humein media me badnaam karne ka hain. Isko record Kiya jaaye ki CBI sources se ye sab media mein na chalwaya jaaye”.

The latest legal news provider Bar & Bench also published: “Kejriwal: Maine aisa koi bayan nahi diya hai ki Manish Sisodia doshi hai. Manish Sisodia nirdosh hai, AAP nirdosh hai, main nirdosh hu. Unka saara plan hai hamein media mein badnaam karne ka”.

We also found ABP News published an article on it with the headline “Manish Sisodia Is Innocent': Arvind Kejriwal Denies CBI's Claim of Statement against AAP Leaders”

In the article, ABP also mentioned: “Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested by the CBI in the Delhi excise policy case, said on Wednesday that the claims made by the probe agency that he has given statements against Manish Sisodia are wrong and Sisodia is innocent”

As per an article published by Mint: Kejriwal clarified, "It is being shown in the media, citing CBI sources, that I have put the entire blame on Manish Sisodia in a statement. I have not given any statement that Sisodia is guilty or anyone else is guilty. I have said Sisodia is innocent, AAP is innocent, and I am innocent."

Hence, based on the investigation and publications by various media outlets, we found the claim to be false. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal did not make such a statement.