According to information obtained by News18, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the Delhi excise policy case will concentrate on key issues like why the number of dry days was cut in the capital, how much profit margin was made on foreign liquor, and why the contentious policy was extended without seeking the Lieutenant Governor’s opinion.
The central agency conducted searches at more than 10 locations in Delhi-NCR on Friday, including Manish Sisodia’s home, a leader in the Aam Aadmi Party and deputy chief minister, escalating the conflict between the party and the BJP-controlled federal government.
The CBI has also filed a complaint on suspected irregularities in the creation and implementation of the Arvind Kejriwal administration’s Delhi Excise Policy 2021–2022.
According to officials, the probe will also look into why excise department staff had the Council of Ministers’ blessing before issuing the order to renew the policy but did not consult the L-G.
After the bids were chosen, Sisodia and others are suspected of giving unauthorised financial favours to the recipients of liquor licences, creating a loss to the exchequer. According to reports, the licensees received a Rs 144.36 crore waiver from the excise department on the tendered licencing fee, citing Covid-19. Additionally, it has been claimed that the government gave the lowest bidder for the airport zone licence its Rs 30 crore earnest money back after it was unable to secure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from airport officials.
On Friday, Sisodia said there was a political vendetta in a series of tweets. “The CBI is welcome. These people are troubled because of the excellent work done by the Delhi government in the health and education sectors. That is why ministers of both departments are targeted to stop us from good work in health and education sector,” he said, referring to the arrest of Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case.
