The CBI on Friday conducted a raid for nearly 15 hours at the house of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy. Find out all about the case here.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted raids at 31 locations including the residence of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the alleged corruption in the implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy.
The probe agency conducted a raid for nearly 15 hours at the house of Manish Sisodia and seized several documents, data dump and electronic gadgets.
India Today has accessed the CBI’s FIR against Manish Sisodia in the case. According to the FIR, Sisodia was named as the first accused in the case.
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WHAT IS THE EXCISE POLICY CASE AGAINST SISODIA?
The CBI’s FIR states that Manish Sisodia and other public servants accused in the case took decisions pertaining to the excise policy 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with “an intention to extend undue favours to the licensees post tender”.
According to the FIR, at least two payments in crores were allegedly made to “close associates” of Sisodia by Sameer Mahendru, the owner of Indospirit, one of the liquor traders involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy.
The FIR also alleged that Sisodia’s “close associates” were actively involved in managing and diverting the funds collected from liquor licensees for the accused involved in the case. Sisodia’s associates had collected around Rs 4 to 5 crores in the two payments, said the FIR.
A total of 15 people, including the deputy chief minister of Delhi were named in the FIR related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The FIR was based on a reference from Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, who recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities in implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22.
Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) might initiate a money laundering probe into the framing and execution of the AAP government’s excise policy.
WHAT IS THE EXCISE POLICY 2021-22?
The policy was formed on the basis of an expert committee report and was implemented from November 17, 2021. Under the new policy, 849 liquor vends were awarded to private companies through open bidding. The city was divided into 32 zones, each with a maximum of 27 vends. Instead of individual licences, bidding was done zone-by-zone.
Delhi’s LG VK Saxena recommended the CBI probe on July 22, 2022 into the alleged rule violations and procedural flaws in the implementation of the excise policy. A report by the Delhi chief secretary in July showed prima facie violations of GNCTD Act 1991, Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR) 1993, Delhi Excise Act 2009 and Delhi Excise Rules 2010.
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The report said that Manish Sisodia took and got executed, major decisions/actions “in violation of the statutory provisions and the notified Excise Policy that had huge financial implications.” The CBI’s investigation was recommended after the report’s findings were revealed.
Manish Sisodia, who also holds the excise portfolio, directed the department on July 28 to “revert” to the old regime of the excise policy for a period of six months till a fresh policy is implemented. The policy was set to expire on July 31 with a one-month extension. However, Delhi will revert to the old excise regime for six months from September 1.
