In its FIR on alleged irregularities in framing of Excise Policy 21-22, central agency has listed Deputy CM, 15 others; ED action likely soon
The CBI on Friday searched Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s residence along with 31 other locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Bengaluru for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Delhi Excise Policy and favouring liquor licencees.
Now, the ED may initiate a money laundering investigation over the framing and execution of the Excise Policy, official sources said on Friday soon after the CBI’s raids.
As per the FIR filed by the CBI on alleged corruption in the framing and implementation of the Excise Policy 2021-22, liquor trader Sameer Mahendru paid `5 crore to associates of Sisodia.
The agency booked Sisodia as a prime accused number one along with 15 others in the FIR.
Besides Sisodia, the CBI has also booked Arva Gopi Krishna, the then Commissioner (Excise), Anand Tiwari, the then Deputy Commissioner (Excise), Pankaj Bhatnagar, then Assistant Commissioner (Excise), and 10 liquor licencees, their associates and unknown others on a reference from the Union Home Ministry.
The premises of Krishna, Tiwari, Bhatnagar and other accused were also searched during the day.
“The searches so far have led to the recovery of incriminating documents/articles and digital records,” the CBI said in a statement.
“The accused have been booked under the Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to criminal conspiracy and falsification of account besides provision of the Prevention of Corruption Act relating to undue advantage.
“It was alleged that irregularities were committed including in modifications in the Excise Policy, extending undue favours to the licencees, waiver/reduction in licence fee, extension of L-1 license without approval, etc.,” the CBI statement said.
It was further alleged that, “Illegal gains on account of these acts were diverted to concerned public servants by private parties and making false entries in their books of accounts.” It said the investigation is continuing.
“Sisodia and three Excise Department officials were instrumental in recommending and taking decisions pertaining to the Excise Policy for the year 2021-22 without the approval of competent authority with an intention to extend undue favours to the licencees post tender,” reads the FIR.
Quoting reliable sources, the FIR alleged that, “Vijay Nair, former CEO of Only Much Louder, an entertainment and event management company, Manoj Rai, a former employee of Pernod Ricard, Amandeep Dhal, owner of Brindco Spirits and Sameer Mahendru, owner of Indo-Spirits are actively involved in irregularities in the framing and implementation of the Excise Policy of GNCTD of Delhi for the year 2021-22.”