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CBI 'grills' Sisodia for 6 hrs for 'Talk to AK' campaign

"Talk to AK" was an interactive session of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which was live-streamed on July 17 in 2016.

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Policemen stand guard at Manish Sisodia’s residence
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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) "interrogated" Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for around six hours at his residence here on Friday about alleged irregularities in the Aam Aadmi Party government's publicity campaign 'Talk to AK'.

"We had sought permission from Manish Sisodia before our team reached his residence," said CBI spokesperson RK Gaur. Gaur also said that no raid or search was conducted. "The visit of the CBI team was to seek a clarification on certain issues relating to an ongoing enquiry."

However, AAP and a Delhi government spokesperson said the agency raided Sisodia's residence. Earlier, the agency had questioned Dilip Cherian of Perfect Relations in the same case.

"Talk to AK" was an interactive session of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, which was live-streamed on July 17 in 2016.

The CBI started a preliminary inquiry in January after the Vigilance Department alleged that Sisodia gave the campaign's contract to Perfect Relations by ignoring tender norms.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh, however, said, "Today's raid signals the resolve of the Centre to not let the AAP government work. The BJP wants to obliterate the Opposition. The intention is to take revenge (of AAP's election win in 2014) through relentless harassment."

Delhi government spokesperson Nagender Sharma also tweeted: "When not a penny was spent on Talk to AK programme, how does CBI come into the picture? Caged parrot not briefed properly by masters again."

Perfect Relations is also a consultant to the Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP), which raises the question of conflict of interest, sources said.

The government's own finance department had warned the DIP about violation of rules, as a consultant cannot be allowed to benefit from its own advice, sources said.

Officials say the Delhi government spent Rs 1.05 crore on the campaign to reach out to the people of Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab, apart from Delhi.

"It was found that no purpose was to be served to the citizens of Delhi as the target audience was for other states such as Punjab, Goa and Gujarat where elections are being scheduled," the complaint stated.

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